Nobela ni Tee Growrich

Tasha sighed as she pulled into the driveway, rubbing her temples. Work had been brutal today back-to-back meetings, endless reports, and a malfunctioning coffee machine that had nearly driven her over the edge. All she wanted was to kick off her heels, change into sweatpants, and curl up on the couch with Ethan. But the moment she opened the door, she froze. The entire house was bathed in warm, golden candlelight. The air was thick with the scent of fresh roses, and red, pink, and white petals created a soft, delicate path across the floor. Tiny fairy lights twinkled around the living room, casting a magical glow. Tasha’s heart pounded. What was going on? She stepped inside cautiously, her eyes scanning the room. The familiar space now looked like something out of a fairy tale. Then— “Mommy, Mommy!” Ethan came running full speed toward her, his face glowing with excitement. Tasha barely had time to brace herself before her little boy wrapped his arms around her legs,

Life didn’t just pause after Vanessa’s downfall. There were still wounds to heal, relationships to mend, and a future to rebuild. And for Tasha, that meant family. If there was one thing Tasha was sure of, it was Ethan. He was her heart, her purpose, the one thing that had kept her going through everything. And after all the chaos, after all the battles she had fought, she refused to let any of it touch him. She wanted Ethan to grow up safe. Happy. Whole. So she made a choice. She put him first. She started taking time off work, something she had rarely done before. Instead of long nights drowning in stress and exhaustion, she spent evenings reading Ethan bedtime stories. Instead of constant worry, she took him on weekend trips, just the two of them, exploring places he had always wanted to see. Instead of being lost in the past, she focused on his future. One night, as she tucked him into bed, he looked up at her with those big, curious eyes and asked, “Are we going to

The psychiatric wing of the prison was cold, clinical. The walls were painted a dull gray, the air thick with the sterile scent of disinfectant. Every step down the hallway felt heavier than the last, as if some invisible force was pushing her back, telling her to turn around. But she didn’t. A guard led her into a separate observation room, where a thick pane of bulletproof glass separated her from Vanessa Steele. The woman sitting in the padded cell was a ghost of who she had been. Gone was the polished, confident Vanessa who once walked into a room owning it. This Vanessa was frail. Her once flawless hair hung in uneven strands, her nails bitten down to nothing. She sat on the floor, rocking back and forth, her knees pulled to her chest. And her lips… They never stopped moving. Tasha knew what she was saying before she even heard it. “Tasha… Tasha… Tasha…” A chill ran through her spine. Vanessa hadn’t even noticed her yet. She was lost in her own world, whispe

The court psychiatrist leaned in and whispered something to the judge. The judge nodded grimly before banging his gavel. “Enough,” he said. His voice was final. “The defendant will undergo a full psychological evaluation.” As the guards dragged Vanessa from the courtroom, her screams echoed off the walls. “This isn’t over, Tasha!” she shrieked. “You hear me?! IT’S NOT OVER!” But it was. Two weeks later, the courtroom was silent as the judge read the final decision. “Vanessa Steele, this court finds you guilty on all counts,” he declared. Murmurs spread through the room. Vanessa sat, expression blank, her fingers twitching. “For the crimes of attempted murder, conspiracy, and the murder of Mike Anderson, you are sentenced to forty years in a high security psychiatric prison.” Vanessa didn’t move. The bailiffs approached, preparing to escort her away. That was when she began to laugh. Soft at first. Then louder. She threw her head back, cackling. It was the laugh

A sharp cry. Both Tasha and Daniel moved closer just in time to see Vanessa thrashing against the officers restraining her. But something was different now. Gone was the cold, calculating woman who had threatened Tasha moments ago. In her place was someone frantic, unhinged someone unraveling before their eyes. “No! No, Tasha is the real culprit!” Vanessa shrieked, her voice rising in hysteria. “You should arrest her! She took everything from me!” Tasha’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Vanessa’s wild eyes dart between her and Daniel. It was as if something inside Vanessa had finally cracked, something that had been holding her together just long enough to get to this point. Daniel tensed beside her, his jaw locking as Vanessa’s attention snapped to him. “Daniel—” she pleaded, her voice turning desperate. “Daniel, tell them! Don’t let Tasha take everything from me! You know you still love me! I know you do! She came between us! She ruined everything! She—” Her w

Vanessa’s breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as she glared at Tasha, her eyes burning with pure hatred. Her fingers twitched as if itching to grab the gun again, but Daniel stood between them now, his stance rigid, protective. “You should have stayed away from me and my family,” Tasha said, stepping closer, her voice like ice. “You should have accepted Daniel’s offer and left to start over.” Vanessa let out a bitter laugh, her face twisting in anger. “Start over?” she spat. “While you get to have everything? While I’m left with nothing?” Tasha’s jaw clenched. Enough. Without warning, she struck her palm cracking against Vanessa’s cheek in a sharp, resounding slap. Vanessa’s head snapped to the side, but before she could react, another slap landed, harder, making her stumble slightly. “Don’t ever mess with my family,” Tasha warned, her voice low and deadly. “Or next time, there will be no next cause you won’t even get the opportunity to do that.” Vanessa’s lips curled into

Not really who she expected. It wasn’t Dino. Just a colleague standing by her desk, offering a small nod. “Boss wants to see you in his office. Right now.” Eloise exhaled slowly, nodding as she set down her pen. Of course, he did. Pushing back her chair, she straightened her blouse and grabbed her notepad... an unnecessary prop, but she needed something to keep her hands busy. The walk to Dino’s office felt both too long and too short. Every step tightened the coil of tension in her stomach. She knocked once, firm and professional. “Come in,” his voice came from inside. She turned the handle, stepping in to find him sitting behind his desk, eyes already on her. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. “You wanted to see me?” she asked, keeping her tone businesslike. He gestured to the chair across from him. “Close the door, Eloise.” A flicker of heat crawled up her spine at the way he said her name, but she masked it, shutting the door before moving to sit.

Eloise excused herself quickly, retreating to the room she’d been assigned. She needed space to breathe, to unpack literally and emotionally. But as she closed the door behind her, she couldn’t help but lean against it, Dino’s voice still echoing in her head. Tomorrow’s work. Back to normal. Back to pretending. Her chest tightened. Eloise dropped her suitcase by the bed, blowing out a sharp breath. “Is he kidding me?” she muttered under her breath, pacing the room. Not even twenty four hours back and Dino was already acting like Hawaii hadn't happened... like they hadn’t kissed, hadn’t touched, hadn’t nearly unraveled everything holding them together. She yanked open her suitcase a little too hard, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior as she unpacked. Each movement sharp, purposeful, as i

The wedding reception slowly shifted into a more relaxed, intimate after party. Guests who remained were family and friends, laughter mingling with the soft hum of music as the night stretched on. Eloise found herself seated with Jess and Matteo, nursing a drink while conversation ebbed around her. Across the terrace, Dino stood in a quiet circle with Luca and Alessandro, but every so often, his gaze flicked toward her always brief, always unreadable. Matteo leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of them knowingly but saying nothing. Instead, he stretched his arms lazily, flashing her an easy grin. "Enjoy tonight while you can, Eloise. Once we’re back in New York, it’s back to chaos." She laughed softly, but her heart tightened at the mention of returning. As the night wound down, Alessandro and Anne made their rounds, thanking guests one last time. When they stopped b

Across the space, Dino stood stiffly by the drinks table, glass in hand, eyes sharp and fixed on the pair. His jaw tightened slightly as Matteo leaned in to whisper something that made Eloise laugh... something that wasn’t meant to sting, but did all the same. Beside Dino, Luca sidled up, catching the direction of his brother’s gaze. "So this is it, huh?" Luca teased, nudging him lightly. "Family." Dino’s lips pressed into a thin line, saying nothing. Luca chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "I always wanted a sister, you know. Though, I gotta say..." he glanced at Dino sideways, smirking..."she might be the only one who can handle you. You can be pretty boring sometimes." Dino shot him a look but didn’t deny it. His attention flicked back to Eloise, her soft smile, the way she moved so easily with Matteo. Luca's words lingered in the air, light and teasing, but Dino barely reacted. His focus remained glued to the dance floor, watching as Matteo effortlessly made Eloise l

Just then... The door slid open. “Oh, shit!” Jess’s voice rang out, eyes wide like saucers as she froze at the doorway. Eloise jolted, heart hammering, but Dino didn’t even flinch. Cool as ever, he simply looked over his shoulder, one hand still firmly on Eloise’s waist. “Jess,” he greeted casually, voice like he hadn’t just been seconds away from devouring Eloise whole. Jess blinked, mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t form words fast enough. “I... I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything,” she sputtered, slamming the door shut so fast the walls shook. Eloise buried her face against Dino’s chest, mortified. “Oh my god.” He laughed softly, lips brushing the top of her head. “Guess that wasn't bad at all.” Her face burned, but his arms only tightened around her. “I don't really care,” he murmured against her hair. “I don't think I'm letting you go.” Later that night, after everything had quieted down, Jess cornered Eloise in their room, arms folded, one brow raised

“You can tell me to stop,” Dino murmured, voice thick, strained, but his thumb was brushing along her jaw so delicately, like she was something precious. Eloise shook her head faintly, chest heaving. “I don’t want you to.” That was all he needed. He kissed her again, slower now, deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth like he couldn’t get enough. His hand slid under the hem of her sweater, fingers brushing over the bare skin at her waist. The touch sent a shiver through her... so light, so electrifying it made her knees weaken. She gasped softly, clinging to his shoulders, nails digging in just slightly as his lips trailed down to the corner of her mouth, then lower, brushing against the sensitive skin just below her jaw. Each kiss left her dizzy, wanting more, needing more. “Dino…” she breathed, voice trembling, almost pleading without realizing it. He smiled faintly against her skin, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes again. His gaze burned into her, a soft, reverent l

Marcus’s words lingered long after he walked away. “There are things you don’t understand yet.” What could he possibly know about my powers or my heritage that I didn’t? It gnawed at me as I paced back and forth in the clearing, the cool evening air doing little to calm the storm inside. Rollins had left to handle pack business, leaving me alone with my thoughts—a dangerous thing, given the weight of what had just transpired. I couldn’t get Marcus out of my head. His offer to train me, the intensity in his eyes, and his cryptic words—it all pointed to something more. Something he was holding back. And I hated that. I hated the feeling of not being in control, of not knowing the full picture. I needed answers. Now. The night air was cool as I stepped into Shadowcrest territory, my heart pounding in my chest. The memories of rejection and humiliation haunted every step I took. Bu

Emily’s POV: My breath hitched as Liam’s words sank in. The weight of them felt like a boulder crashing onto my chest. “Everett…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “No…” I had never met him, but Mia had told me enough. Everett had been loyal to Cassandra, a part of her schemes. He wasn’t innocent, but still… I killed him. I stared down at my hands again, my fingers trembling. How could something that came from me, something that I couldn’t control, take someone’s life? I felt Rollins step closer, his warmth trying to soothe me, but it wasn’t enough to chase away the dread growing inside me. "Emily," Liam's voice was soft, but there was something uneasy in his tone. "He wasn't one of us. Everett's betrayal... he deserved what came to him. But still, this power you have..." I swallowed hard, blinking away the tears forming in my eyes. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to kill anyone.” Rollins took my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “You didn’t know, Emily. You were trying to

Marcus's POV The moment Emily’s power surged through me, I expected agony. But instead, the pain that had once gripped my body began to fade. My wounds, which had seemed so severe, were closing, the skin knitting itself back together as though the injury had never existed. I could feel it her power, coursing through me, not as an attack but as something else entirely. Healing. As Leon and the others helped me back to our territory, I was already standing on my own, walking steadily beside them. They exchanged glances, clearly puzzled by my sudden recovery, but no one dared say a word. When we arrived back at the pack, the others stared in silence, their eyes wide with both relief and uncertainty. I could feel their confusion their Alpha had returned, seemingly unscathed, but something had shifted. It wasn’t just the wound that had healed; there was a palpable tension in the air, a sense that everything had changed the moment Emily had intervened. Leon was the first to break the si

“Emily, please!” Rollins’ voice cut through the haze, and I turned to look at him, my vision still glowing with that blinding white light. His eyes were filled with fear not of me, but for me. “You’re stronger than this. You can control it.” His words pierced through the madness, and for a brief moment, I hesitated. The light flickered, and I felt the power waver within me. But it wasn’t enough. The rage was still there, threatening to consume everything in its path. “Emily, I need you,” Rollins whispered, his voice breaking. “I can’t lose you.” Something in his words reached me, cutting through the storm of emotions that had taken over. Slowly, painfully, I began to pull the power back, forcing it to retreat into the depths of my soul. The light dimmed, the dome shrinking until it finally vanished, leaving nothing but silence. I collapsed into Rollins’ arms, my body shaking with the effort of containing the power. He held me close, his grip tight as if he was afraid I might

As I stood there, catching my breath, the reality of what had just happened hit me. The pack was under attack, and Cassandra had betrayed us. I needed to find Rollins and warn him about Cassandra. I shifted back into my human form, not caring about the blood or the scratches that marred my skin. Right now, the only thing that mattered was getting to Rollins and stopping this attack before it destroyed everything we had fought to protect.I sprinted back towards the pack house, my heart pounding in my chest. The sounds of fighting were already filling the air—growls, howls, and the clash of wolves. The other forces were attacking, and they had the advantage of surprise.As I reached the main clearing, I saw pack members rushing to defend our territory. Panic and fear were etched on their faces, but they fought valiantly. I needed to find Rollins, he had to know about Cassandra’s betrayal, and we had to stop this before it was too late.I spotted him near the center of the chaos, issu

Emily's POVAfter what felt like hours, I finally heard the sound of the door creaking open. Rollins stepped into our room. Relief flooded me at the sight of him, but it was quickly followed by a pang of anxiety. Whatever he had discovered at the archives, it wasn’t good. “Rollins,” I said softly, standing from where I had been sitting by the window. “What did you find?” He looked at me for a long moment before finally speaking. “Emily, there’s something you need to know about your powers, about who you are.” My heart raced as I took a step closer to him, searching his face for answers. “What do you mean?” He hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. “You’re not just a white wolf, Emily Ravens. You’re part of a rare Royal lineage, one that was believed to be extinct. Your powers… they’re tied to something ancient, something that could either protect us or…” He trailed off, his voice thick with concern. “Or what?” I pressed, fear gripping my heart. “Or destroy everything,” h

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Claude chuckled a deep, knowing sound. "I was wondering how long it would take," he said smoothly. "Where are you?" Ashley glanced around her office, the walls suddenly feeling too tight, too suffocating. "Not here," she said. "Somewhere private." "Agreed." His tone was casual, but she could hear the interest behind it. "I know just the place. Meet me at—" He gave her an address, one that wasn’t familiar. A private location. A place where no one would suspect Mrs. Donovan of having a meeting with another man. Ashley hesitated, her heart thudding. "Are you getting cold feet?" Claude teased. "No," she said quickly. Never. "Good," he said. "Then don’t keep me waiting." The line went dead. Ashley inhaled sharply, staring at her phone. Was she really doing this? Yes. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the office with steady steps, telling her assistant she was stepping out for a personal matter. As she reached the l

The next morning, Ashley stepped out of the office building for a breath of fresh air. The weight of playing the perfect wife was suffocating, but she bore it with a grace that masked her true intentions. She adjusted the sleeves of her silk blouse, inhaling the crisp morning air as she descended the steps. And then she bumped into a solid chest. "Steady there," a deep voice murmured, hands instinctively reaching out to steady her. Ashley blinked up, her breath hitching. Claude. Dressed in a tailored navy suit, he looked effortlessly powerful. His sharp eyes flickered with recognition before a slow smirk curved his lips. "Mrs. Donovan," he greeted, his tone laced with amusement. "We meet again." Ashley straightened, smoothing her blouse. "Mr. Claude," she replied evenly. His gaze lingered on her, as if searching for something beneath her calm exterior. "What a coincidence," he mused. "Or maybe not." Ashley’s fingers clenched at her sides. Was he toying with her? Or did

The car ride home was thick with tension. Alex gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles white, while Ashley sat beside him, her face calm, expression unreadable. As soon as they stepped into the house, Alex slammed the door shut and turned to her, his gaze sharp and accusing. "What the hell was that, Ashley?" His voice was controlled, but she could hear the rage beneath it. She blinked up at him, feigning innocence. "What was what?" His jaw ticked. "Don’t play games with me. What are you trying to pull with that investor?" Ashley tilted her head slightly. "I was just being polite. Isn’t that what you wanted? For me to act as your perfect wife?" Alex scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t like the way he looked at you." "Looked at me?" She let out a small, humorless laugh. "I thought I was made for nothing, remember?" His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice dropping lower. "I know what you’re doing, Ashley. What

Ashley sat gracefully, placing her hands on the table as the meeting began. If Alex thought he could rattle her by bringing Claude into this, he was mistaken. She wasn’t the same woman who had walked blindly into his games. Claude’s sharp gaze flickered toward her every so often as Alex presented their pitch. He listened, nodding at the right moments, but Ashley could tell his attention wasn’t entirely on the numbers. He was watching her, waiting to see how she would react. She gave him nothing. When Alex finished his presentation, Claude leaned back in his chair, resting his fingers against his chin. "It’s a compelling offer," he admitted. "But before I commit, I’d like to hear from Mrs. Donovan." Alex tensed beside her, and Ashley nearly smiled. Claude had just thrown her a rope, one Alex wasn’t expecting. She turned to Claude, meeting his gaze with quiet confidence. "What specifically would you like to know?" "Your perspective," Claude said smoothly. "I’ve seen companies thr

The rest of the day, Ashley focused on her work. She familiarized herself with potential investors, upcoming projects, and the responsibilities that came with her new position. But even as she worked, she could feel Alex’s presence lingering. Not physically, but in the way people whispered when she walked by, in the way his secretary cast her glances, as if expecting Ashley to lash out. She didn’t. She stayed calm, professional. Mrs. Donovan doesn’t break. But she wasn’t naive. She knew Alex wouldn’t let this go. And she was right. That evening, as she was gathering her things to leave, her office phone rang. "Yes?" she answered. "Come to my office," Alex’s voice came through the receiver. It wasn’t a request. Ashley hesitated for only a second before hanging up and walking toward his office. When she entered, Alex was seated behind his massive desk, sipping whiskey, his expression unreadable. His secretary was nowhere in sight, which meant whatever he wanted to say, he didn

Ashley stepped out of the Donovan Enterprises building with the same composure she had maintained all morning. She was no longer the naïve housewife who cried in private while her husband paraded his mistress around. No, she was Mrs. Donovan, and today, the world was going to see her as she was meant to be. A sleek, black luxury car pulled up in front of the building just as she reached the sidewalk. The driver stepped out, opening the door for her. "Courtesy of Mia," he said with a slight bow. Ashley slid into the plush leather seat, crossing her legs gracefully as the car pulled into traffic. Mia had chosen an upscale restaurant in the heart of the city, a place frequented by executives, socialites, and the type of people who loved to gossip. Perfect. When Ashley arrived, Mia was already waiting at a private table, sipping a cocktail with a smirk on her lips. "You look like you just stepped off the cover of a power magazine," Mia said, eyes flicking over Ashley’s pristine ou