RyleeThis is my first time in the Mansion’s party restaurant on the first floor. The place is lavishly decorated, with a long table set for twenty, and pre-dinner snacks already laid out. The lights are dim, and the flickering candles cast dancing shadows on the walls, adding to the room's elegance.The guests all seem to know each other well. Even Meg, who’s beside me, is whispering to someone. I sit in the first seat on the left side of the table, trying to endure the occasional curious glances thrown my way. Don’t move. Stay calm, I tell myself. No one’s coming over to talk to me anyway.The restaurant slowly fills up. Most of the faces are unfamiliar, though I spot Carl, and even Cecilia has been invited. She’s seated far down the table, away from me. The two main seats—the ones at the head and across from it—are still empty. Those belong to Alvar and Hera, who both stepped out to talk.Suddenly, the living room door swings open, and Alvar strides into the dining room. He’s dress
RyleeWhen Alvar makes the announcement, the room falls into a stunned silence, except for Carl and Meg, who already know. I can feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, and the first to catch my attention is Cecilia's resentful glare. Her hostility cuts through the air like a knife, and I resist the urge to bite my lip. Instead, I force a smile, though my nerves scream for me to run out the door. But Hera is here, and I can’t afford to lose face.Alvar notices my reaction, and his eyebrow arches slightly as the fire in his eyes fades a little. He takes my hand, his grip firm yet reassuring, and I allow our fingers to interlock.Alvar’s voice is still charged with determination as he declares, “The wedding is set for next week. No one can change my decision.” He stresses the word “anyone,” and for a brief moment, his gaze flicks toward Hera, who remains expressionless, her face a mask of calm.Dinner is served shortly after, and the meal is nothing short of exquisite. I try to focus
RyleeAlvar doesn’t hesitate. “Don’t say shit. There’s no way you’re helping with the wedding. I don’t agree. You better not make a mess.” His voice is cold and hard, leaving no room for debate.Cecilia clearly didn’t expect such a harsh rejection. She bites her lip, turning her hopeful gaze to me. “Rylee, what do you say?” There’s a strange glint in her eyes. “I said I could help you, remember?”My heart skips a beat. She’s talking about our secret plan, the one where she’d help me escape. If I don’t play along, she’ll rat me out to Alvar. I’m screwed, especially since Hera just had a talk with Alvar. He’s on edge about everything right now.I tug on Alvar’s sleeve, forcing myself to sound casual. “It’s okay. Cecilia has good taste. I don’t have many friends in the pack, so I’m glad she’s willing to help.”Alvar’s frown deepens as he studies me. “What are you two playing at? I don’t remember you being so close.” His suspicion is clear, and I struggle to keep my face neutral.After a
RyleeMy heart is in turmoil. I don’t know how to answer or how to explain what’s bothering me. Am I jealous? I’ve never felt this way before. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I didn’t own anything. I’ve only ever been envious once in a while—like in the summertime when Syd and the others could go swimming in the river and eat ice cream, but I still had to work.Now, I clearly have Alvar’s favoritism, yet I’m still jealous. Why?Alvar turns me around and gently lifts my face. “Tell me why. Or I’m going to have to kiss you right here.”I pull away from him in a panic. His so-called kissing never stops at just a kiss.“It’s nothing. Just…” I try to suppress the questions bubbling inside me. Did you sleep with Cecilia? Did you date her? What’s going on with Ruth? Those women you’ve been with… have you had a lot of lovers?But who am I to ask? Do I even like him? I don’t know. I’m not his girlfriend, just MATE. A mate without a mate-bond.“…I was just thinking, you’re a good dancer…
RyleeThe softness in his eyes vanishes. Dismay quickly turns to anger and bloodlust. The gentle Alvar disappears, replaced by the familiar formidable Alpha.I rush to speak before he erupts. “You don’t need to ask who he is. I’ve rejected him. I’m done with him.”“Why?” he demands through gritted teeth.“I don’t think we’re right for each other,” I admit, the words finally escaping my lips after so long.“Why?” His eyes darken, sharper than ever. I sense his fury, but strangely, I’m not afraid. It’s astonishing that he’s holding back his anger.“I didn’t want to be stuck in Greenvale. I wanted my own life, so I left.”Alvar’s skin begins to change, a precursor to a shift. “You and he have a mate bond. But we don’t.”“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I say, glancing at his mouth as fangs begin to emerge. “Are you going to kill me? Or mark me, even if I haven’t agreed to it?”Alvar steps closer, radiating an intensity I’ve never felt before. I almost choke on the pressure.“How co
“The waters of the sacred lake help me heal,” Alvar says softly. “Whenever I’m hurt or in a bad mood, I come here. Soaking in the water speeds up the healing process. I hope it helps you too. I need you to get better.”“I need your wolf,” he adds.“I need our mate bond,” he says.Tears well up in my eyes. “Fool,” I murmur.In this moment, his feelings for me are crystal clear. I forget the prejudices, the pretense, and the distance between us. Wrapped in a skin-to-skin embrace in the cold winter lake under the moonlight, I come to understand my feelings for him.How could I not like him? The Alpha who reveals his vulnerabilities to me, the mate who goes to great lengths to show his affection.“Fool,” I say again, burying my head in the crook of his neck. For the first time, I hug him tightly of my own accord.He holds me closer. “Mmm. I am a fool,” he responds softly.We stay like that, holding each other in silence.The night wind grows colder, and the lake’s water becomes icy. Gradu
RyleeThe forest is quiet, only the sound of the wind and my moans echoing across the lake.I slide the straps of my dress off my shoulders, exposing my breasts. I tease my nipples, then trace my foot up Alvar’s lower back, lightly stepping on his hardness, my toes brushing over the tip. “What’s wrong, Professor? Am I too much for you to handle?” I ask, licking my lips and giving him a playful wink.Alvar’s cock throbs under my touch. He takes my hands, eyes locking onto mine. “You’re such a siren. How do you know all this?”“Don’t you like it?” I grin, spreading my legs apart, revealing myself to him once again.“Love it. I especially love it.” He releases my hands and pulls my dress off, carefully, not shredding it like before. His hand caresses my face. “I just didn’t expect you to be like this for me.”“It’s time for pre-class, girl. The lesson is about to begin.” His voice drops to a whisper before he buries his head in my chest.I sit on the rock and moan. My heat against the co
RyleeAlvar's body radiates warmth, driving away the lingering chill. At my words, he freezes, then looks at me, his eyes blazing with light that pierces the darkness.With a sharp inhale, he lifts me, settling me in his lap, his hardness still deep inside me. "Rylee, what did you just say?"I push at his chest, pain mingling with desire. "You heard me, you jerk."His lips brush against my skin, leaving a trail of tender kisses. "I did hear you... but is it true? Did you feel it too?"He frowns slightly, a mix of concern and longing. "But I haven’t felt your wolf yet.""It hasn’t come out," I admit, shifting my hips to adjust to the size of him. The movement sends a strange, electrifying sensation through me, and I hiss softly. "But I can smell you, sense you... you’re my mate, Alvar."Excitement lights up his eyes, and he kisses me deeply, the passion in his kiss making me dizzy. He begins to move again, slowly, as his thick cock explores every inch of me, making me feel like I’m on