IrisI smiled, jumped to my feet, and rushed over to Natalia. We hugged tightly, enjoying the warmth of each other's company."Oh, Natalia, you are like a breath of fresh air. Having you visit me is always therapeutic."She smiled, reached into her bag and pulled out a stylish new phone."I got this for you. You need to stay in touch in case Adonis prevents me from coming here. We also need to start planning your escape."My hand paused midway, and the thought of leaving made my heart ache. As stupid as it sounded, I couldn't bear the thought of staying away from Adonis.Was I crazy? Maybe. Despite the pain and confinement, a part of me knew I couldn't live without Adonis' touch, kisses, and even the degrading sex he exposed me to. He could have killed me, but instead he kept me alive and cared for me in his own twisted way. Was there even a real reason for me to leave? I loved him, no matter how toxic it sounded. Stockholm syndrome was kicking in. Leaving meant abandoning the hope
Helena (Iris' aunt) had been anticipating this day for years, but she was also dreading it.This was the most complicated situation she had ever encountered, but she had to act before things worsened. It was time to speak out.But first, she had to persuade her longtime friend, who was a witness to what she had done twenty-one years ago."Have you lost your damn mind?" Her friend Rachel snapped at her while they sat in Helena's front yard. "How do you expect us to rush up to an innocent woman and inform her that the child she has raised for 21 years is not hers?"Helena sighed. Her sorrow was a massive, painful knot within her.“If Iris had not grown on me and I hadn't developed such strong feelings for her, if I didn't want her to be free forever, I'd keep my mouth shut. But Adonis believes she is Alexander's daughter. The innocent girl is wasting away in his cell."Rachel held up her hands. "I don't want to be involved in this. We are both retired now, and I rely solely on the govern
Sarah sat at her desk, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to calm herself. Everything was happening so fast; her world was collapsing. She held her palms up and out, pleading with the moon goddess to explain why she was allowing to suffer. If this so-called moon goddess was so caring, why did she seem to enjoy seeing her in pain? Was she truly fair and just, as many claimed? Sarah had always been taught to honor the moon goddess, relying on her wisdom and kindness. But now, her faith was shattered. How can a powerful and compassionate deity allow such cruelty? Sarah had led a peaceful life, carrying out her responsibilities and finding joy in her daily routine. Her marriage was strong, her job was rewarding, and the omega community valued her. Her life wasn't perfect, but it wasn't particularly chaotic either. She had dealt with minor issues and challenges in the past, but nothing had prepared her for this. Sophia was the only one who bothered her. She was headstrong
Sarah couldn't concentrate, and despite having a lot of work to do, especially as payday approached, she felt useless. She called her daughter several times, but Sophia, being Sophia, never answered.She returned home feeling shattered. Alone in her room, she felt cold all over, and her mind raced back to Helena's confessions. Her thoughts were jumping from memory to memory, and it made her very upset.Sophia wasn't a particularly well-behaved child, but Sarah loved her so much. Her daughter was problematic and demanded her way, and now she was obsessed with Adonis.Sarah clutched her phone and continued to dial Sophia without success.She didn't realize her husband had entered the room, and when she did, her usual warmth was missing. She didn't give him a hug."Hey, is everything alright? Rough day?"Sarah's lips curled into a small smile as she gazed at her husband. The revelation would crush him, and her heart ached. "My day was good. Just that Sophia is ignoring my calls as usual
Adonis "Code blue," a pudgy doctor signaled. I couldn't stop sweating. My dad's fucking lover, Axton, stood next to me, his face filled with sorrow.I didn't need anyone to tell me this was it; my dad was dying.The ICU was buzzing with activity as the medical team worked to save his life. They were all well-paid specialists. In a last-ditch effort, one person monitored his vital signs while another administered medication.I stood there, hoping for a miracle. I was angry at him, but I didn't want him to die.It was heartbreaking and stressful beyond description. I couldn't wait to get away from the chaos.I could only see a bleak future before me. If my dad died, my entire life as a leader would be turned upside down. My cousins were terrified of his presence, so they didn't openly challenge me.They would seize the opportunity to bully me and mock my incomplete alpha coronation rites. They would not have to hide behind whispers and subtle jabs; instead, they would confront me direc
Adonis walked away, leaving everyone tongue-tied. Natalia was shaken and unable to utter a word. Freddy's jaw dropped, and Sophia, the devil's daughter, flushed with embarrassment and looked confused.The silence was so thick that Natalia felt like strangling Sophia and suffocating her. More importantly, she wondered why Adonis didn't get angry. She sat on the sofa, feeling numb.He must be completely uninterested in her. But she wasn't complaining."Thank the goddess he didn't overreact," Fred said, his voice hardening as he confronted Sophia. "You always seem to lack empathy and act so insensitively. You do this all the time without remorse.""What are you talking about?" she asked, concealing her face behind her hair."You know exactly what he means, whore!" Natalia lashed out. "I hate you so much, Sophia. Adonis just lost his dad, and all your tiny brain can think about is causing him more grief!"Sophia rolled her eyes and reveled in the chaos she'd created."Girl, if you think I
Adonis My body tensed up when I saw my dad's lover. I had definitely stopped calling him "uncle,"as that would be strange and imply an incestuous relationship between him and my dad. I had also lost respect for him."May I come in?" he inquired, standing at the door to my study. I didn't respond with dignity. When he walked in, we were surrounded by a cold, black silence.The fucker looked frightened and sorry, and a tight knot within me begged for release. I had built an erect wall of defense around me."What do you want?" I asked, then stood up to pour myself some coffee. I looked at my reflection in the glass partition; my hair was in desperate need of trimming."I came to see how you are holding up," Axton said, and I gave him a sideways glance."Why the fuck do you care? You've received enough punishment to last your entire life, and I'm confident that the secret affair you had with my dad, which drove my mother away will choke you until you die."A wrinkle appeared across his b
Love radiated through my chest as I gazed at Adonis’s wolf. It looked awkward and animated, but at least it recognized me and wasn't violent."Hey, you," I said with a bubbly tone, kissing its forehead and feeling a deep compassion for both the wolf and my lover. I nuzzled his wolf with joyful tears filling my face."Do you believe me now?" I said softly to it. "I will never hurt you, Adonis, and I know that deep down you believe me. I love and care about you so much. If I had ulterior motives, I would have kept these secrets to myself."The wolf wagged its tail and leaned in. The very air around us seemed electrified, and I loved that the wolf drank in the comfort of my nearness."I love you forever," I said. "I cherish you, and I want you to know that you are worthy. Nothing is going to change that."Our closeness was like a drug, and my heart ached under my breast, knowing that this was a major weakness he had and his enemies were going to exploit him with it.My heart raced, wonde