Rose's POVI stood frozen as I stared at them through the lesser crowd.It wasn't a trick of the lights or a mistake. She was right beside him.I had never seen him with another woman. Even though I knew he had his paramours as the billionaire he was - it would be foolish to think he hadn't gained those bedroom skills from anywhere - it wasn't something I thought much about. I still remembered the bitter sensation I had back when I didn't fully recognize my feelings after Lily told me about Emmeline. Even though I had only conjured the possibility in my mind, it ached to think about.None of that compared to the stabbing feeling of looking at them.Even from afar under the club lights I could see her features. Her dark hair stood out, matching with the sleek black dress she wore. She looked like a femme fatale.And she was leaning toward him.Hot bitterness washed over me, replacing the initial heat I felt with something more revolting as I looked at him.If the clothes weren't enough
Rose's POVMy pulse raced in my chest. Somehow, even though I stared at him from afar, his presence filled the entire room.The look on his face especially, made my legs jelly. It was a wonder how I was still standing.I had seen him in many states, and had witnessed the dark intense look in his eyes. This however was far from it.His eyes blazed in a way I had never seen before. His entire expression hardened from every slight line. Though his face looked stony, his expression told a different story like a storm.Trepidation filled me. Glancing at all the restroom doors, I could tell that the place was empty and we were the only ones present. With him at the entrance, there was no way I was escaping from this.I suddenly reminded myself of how I got here and why exactly I did so, rejuvenating my anger. The fear and trepidation that stunned me melted away under my annoyance. ‘How. Dare. He?’ I seethed.After he had shunned me with another woman - goodness knows how long that had been
Rose's POVI couldn't look away. My eyes remained fixed on him like a magnet.Something swirled up inside me akin to a breeze. The bitter anger I felt slowly wanted under his stare as those three words echoed in my mind.‘I'm yours.'‘I'm yours.’‘Yours.'‘He was mine.'I only vaguely felt the breath leave me in a slow shudder as my heart raced beneath my chest. Slowly, the tension rung through my body eased. In the same motion, his arms eased around me, as though he could tell my mood. I remained standing in place, though the close contact between us never ended.I swallowed thickly, my gaze never leaving his. I let my fingers trail across the soft cotton fabric of his shirt as I processed his words. In tandem, his minty breaths still ghosted over mine.For a moment, I glanced down to his lips. They were flushed and slightly parted. I could just as easily close the distance between us and focus on the brief momentary pleasure, but my heart resisted.“Who is she?” I muttered, rising b
Rose's POVFalling into his kiss was as easy as breathing air. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him with the small leeway I had been given. Pushing my chest closer to him.All the misunderstandings and doubt that clouded me has dissipated. Enough words had been said. Now, all I wanted was to lose myself in him. I could stay in this moment forever.Suddenly, a sharp pleasurable sensation ran through me, eliciting a small whine into his kiss. Dizzy and caught off guard, it took me time to notice the cause. His thigh came in-between my legs, directly rubbing into my core.His chuckle as we parted was so low and barely unnoticeable before he swept back in, initiating the same motion again.I arched my back against the movement, grinding against the warm flesh between as he did so. My dress was sure to be hiking up at my movement, but I didn't care.It didn't matter that we were making out in the club bathroom, or that there could be other people outside waiting at the door.
Rael's POVEven during the most tense of times, I had never lost my composure.I had fought battles, faced off against the Elders council in my pack and even amongst other Alphas. Though I had faced a myriad of emotions from concealed anger to worry and even relief, they were all tightly concealed within me.It was an unspoken rule. An instinctual behavior and expectation written in packs even in this modern age. An Alpha was the strong pillar of his pack. Although it never meant being cruel or not admitting one's weakness, there was a certain degree of composure afforded, especially in the face of other Alphas. It was a lesson I learned early. Since then, not once facing them had I fumbled and cowered.Why then, did I feel so weak hearing those words from her?‘Mine'I swallowed, yet it seemed like all the moisture had left my mouth and my body. My gaze remained magnetizer to the smirk she bore on her face. Never had I seen such a look from her. If I could come up with any word to de
Rael's POVFlashback continues. I stood frozen in time under her gaze. Her eyes, so expressive even under the multicolored strobe lights called out to me. Her presence was a siren of its own, dulling all the senses around me and leaving only her. I swallowed thickly under her gaze, my instincts rising to the surface. I wanted to go there and take her into my arms. I wanted to demand answers to my questions, especially what the hell she was doing here.Her gaze was imploring, ever so readable. I could see that she wanted to come here. She seemed to lean forward, tethering toward me as I was to her. Satisfaction filled the worry around me.‘Come to me,’ my body and mind implored.Suddenly, a slight pressure came on my shoulder and reality came rushing back. I stiffened as Felicity crept up behind me.“What got you so stiff now?” Though I could tell that her words were teasing, panic and a wave of protective instincts spread around me at her coming into contact with Rose.It was too la
Rose's POVAs our teeth clashed and my tongue melded with his, only one thing came to mind.Never had I felt such power before.Time after time, every attack reminded me of how weak I was. Even amongst the people protecting me such as Adian and Lily and George. Although they tried comforting me, our physical differences were invisible but still there. Especially with Rael, who dominated me at every instance. It wasn't negative. Rather, I embraced it in my haze of lust. The feeling of his body over mine, taking me in any and every position possible gave me a high I had never felt.This though, was a different high.It was like a drug, sweeping into my veins, pushing me to be what I had never been. This fearless person that ordered him to strip so brazenly, a mile compared to my breathy order moments before he fucked me. Who ran her hands through his bare body as he kept still. Who had the will to brazenly say those words.“You're mine.”It wasn't me, but it was me in every way. As I
Rose's POVThe room stood in utter stillness, only the sounds of his breaths.He seemed unhinged. Disoriented in a way that alarmed me.I remained the same way, lips parted yet unable to say a word. Though my breaths were much calmer and quieter, not betraying the turmoil that came from his question.“What are you doing to me?”He hadn't said anything after that, not even a demand for me to answer. He simply stood still, his head resting against mine and breathed. His eyes were closed.Whether it was a rhetorical question or not, it stood hanging in the air between us. I was content to rest in this moment.Suddenly, a loud sound erupted behind the muffled space. I was startled out of my trance, eyes darting to the door.It was a loud chorus of people, not the happy cheers one could expect. An uproar unsettling me even in the silence. Something was going wrong.I turned back to real to find him in the same state. His eyes were no longer closed, that look of tranquil relaxation he once
Rose's POVI sighed, looking up at the night sky. The chill of the night sky made me shiver, but I embraced it.The hospital region looked so different from the places I was used to, but the sky always remained the same.I had stayed in the hospital for four days now. Even though in theory there was no longer any need to. Real had insisted on the hospital staff who allowed me to remain here, even without the needs for medical attention.I was grateful for it, and I was sure he knew why I didn't want to step into the mansion again.And so my nights were spent within the place, no dankehs in sight and Real being a constant presence. Despite staying in the hospital, he brought food from the pack house daily which I accepted.Adian visited another time on one occasion, and Rael stood by, acting more like a watchdog. Amidst their jabs I could see what I had been blind to for so long. The easy camaraderie between them. And Rael seemed lighter than I had ever seen him before.Now, four days
Rael's POVTracing her contact and the texts she sent was the hardest part, everything aside from that was easy.Location in hand, I arrived to find him, said ex boyfriend, sipping tea in the cafe waiting for her. I stepped in, facing him.I could tell that he was one to be easily intimidated, proven by how he palmed immediately after he recognized me. In no time, he scrammed out of the cafe, garnering many looks for a moment. I waited in silence for the main reason for my presence.It took almost twenty minutes, before Jade stepped in, eyes searching through the tables. Despite her almost innocent appearance, she was definitely sharp minded. The moment she spotted me, surprise flitted onto her face before morphing into dislike.She indeed loathed me. I had never been close or bothered with any of her friends aside from listening whenever she talked about them, but whether I caught it or not wouldn't have mattered either way if not for this.I partly expected her to walk away or try t
Rose's POV Rael left shortly after bringing me breakfast, leaving me with a kiss on my forehead and whispered promises.Full and completely awake, there was no way I was going back to bed anytime soon. With nothing left to do, I walked around the large hospital room I had been given, admiring the skyline view in peace. I tried not to think too much about Jade and whatever measures Real was going to take, only hoping that both of them were alright. Instead, I looked down at my belly.A baby was growing in there and I never noticed. Slowly rubbing it, I smiled to myself at Rael's past words. Indeed, this baby was resilient to have gone past the alcohol and malnourishment, only to remain healthy.Strong, but that didn't mean I was going to let anyone harm it. “I don't know what will happen between your father and I, but I promise you I'll protect you the best I can. Even if it costs me.” Shutting my eyes, I repeated it several times, keeping it etched in my bones.I would do my best t
Rose's POVWhen I woke up, the sun was up and it was far warmer than before. Yawning, I looked around as it eased upon me.The chair Rael was on was completely empty. I properly looked around at the surroundings.The place was large, filled with couches and chairs with a dining setting right beside them. Save hospital beds, it looked more like a hotel.This definitely wasn't cheap.I let out a sigh, shaking my head. There was nothing I could do about it now.Even with his absence, I could still hear his words.He loved me.There were still plenty of things to deal with, especially with my pregnancy on the way. But instead, I laid back on the mattress, closing my eyes. At this moment, I was content.I spent my time taking deep breaths, lost in the blank zen state when a sudden vibration pulled me out.Blinking, I looked around for the source, only to see my phone in surprise.‘He'd taken it too, I reasoned. I looked at the screen in surprise. Jade was calling.I gasped, recalling how I
Rose's POVI squinted in the face of the blinding lights, taking time to adjust as I slowly returned to reality.Beeping filled my ears, closer than ever. The sting of disinfectant woke me up even further.‘Where was I?’ I faintly wondered as I drifted out of dreamland. I tried sitting up when suddenly a pair of warm hands circled me.“Wait." All vestiges of sleep erased at his voice.His words and our unfinished discussion before my fainting still rang clearly in my mind.‘Of course,’ I thought. He was the one who no doubt brought me here.I remained silent while he helped me sit up, avoiding eye contact. Tingles grew from his penetrating stare, but I ignored it.“Where am I?" I asked, breaking the tense silence.“You're in the hospital." He said, confirming my thoughts.A slight twinge of relief filled me that I wasn't back in the mansion, no matter how much my heart lurched for it. This was more neutral ground.Those thoughts went away once I remembered why I was in the hospital.
Rael's POVPanic grew in my throat the moment I caught her in my arms. She was out cold, her breaths shallow.Damn it all. I hadn't thought about her condition. The fact that she hadn't been eating for the past few days.None of that will do. I had to take her to the hospital.Hefting her body up, I moved against the fallen bodies in the hallway. That would be taken care of later.I had rushed in, feeling the warning instincts. She wouldn't forgive me if I left her friend there.‘She may not forgive you at all.’ Ny hands tightened on her at the thought.Rose's friend was knocked out cold on the floor, but otherwise, she was safe. No doubt she would wake up in a matter of hours.Laying Rose on the couch, I picked Jade up, tucking her into her bedroom before leaving just as quickly.Picking her up again, my gaze was fixated on her face, how peaceful she looked even now.Without another word, I sped back to my car.Driving into the hospital gave the feeling of deja vu, but I ignored it i
Rose's POVI almost couldn't believe it, but it was undeniable.The man I was hurt by, whom I thought wouldn't rescue me, was there. His eyes treaded across them.“Let her go.” He growled, body poised in a way that made him seem larger than life.The man that held me and his henchman were both stuck in place. I was too stricken to try struggling against them, which wouldn't have amounted to anything considering the still painful grip they had on me.In a flash, everything changed.The whiplash was painful as I was pulled away, the man holding me running as fast as he could out of the hallway. The movement sent a wave of dizziness through me.A loud growl, and everything holding me disappeared. I was light, flying freely in the air for a moment before I collided harshly with the ground. I whimpered as my injured arm burned before I slumped back to the floor.A choked noise and the sound of flesh colliding were all I heard before everything fell silent.Harsh breaths came up behind me,
Rose's POV I followed Jade through the door, shutting it behind me.I had sneaked out of the mansion, thankfully taking advantage of the lack of presence. Even with fear creeping from me, I walked until my legs hurt, moving until I reached the asphalt streets I had told Jade to wait for me in. Jade had taken a taxi all the way to the far end of the place where I met her. I looked away from her gaze, knowing the poor sight I looked like at the moment. It all went away after I entered the taxi, watching the mansion move farther and farther away. It was past midnight when we finally arrived in the city and even further when we got to her place.The timing was unexpected, but it all made sense when the destination wasn't the same one I knew.This apartment was new and different. From the minimal tones and the slightly more expensive look, it was a complete change from her former space throughout college.I looked around in awe. “I didn't know you had a new place,” I said, looking around
Rael's POV.I took in the cool air, letting the heat simmer down.Finally, the anticipated meeting with the Alpha Council had taken place and it was anticlimactic.I had welcomed them, pushing away all my worries easier than expected. After giving them the information and discoveries gathered, thanks to Mira, they were equally ecstatic.That was my chance to state my sole condition to continue this project.Let Rose go.“There is no need for us to use an innocent human as bait for the Dankehs anymore.” I had tried reasoning with them.The backlash was expected, but I physically had to hold myself back from losing control in the face of their disparaging comments.‘A mere human?’Rose was far more than that. She was more than anything else I had seen. I, who had taken advantage of her naivety and kindness, had tried seeing her in the same way in the beginning and failed miserably. None of them would understand though. They just saw her as a tool to gain victory over the threat plaguin