SCARLETT :"Pardon me," I cleared my throat using my fist as a microphone. "Welcome, oh your royal highness," I drawled with sarcasm."Save it," she shut me up."Your majesty, I am quite exhausted. Is it urgent?" I deadpanned."It is actually," she sat on my bed. "What's your relationship with the Alpha?" she asked me."I thought he told you that earlier.""I forgot. Remind me.""I thought princesses were meant to be smart. I'm his assistant.""Jax has never had a female assistant," she flipped her hair. "And I'm more intelligent than your lower-class ass would ever be.""Didn't know you were a stalker. Also, there's always time for firsts.""Our fathers were friends. I've known him since he was struggling to memorize the pack rules. You did something to get the job."Is there an award for that? I thought to myself."The point is," she continued. "If you're an assistant, let it remain that way. I hope you're not sleeping with him," she shot arrows into my eyes with her stare."Or are
JAX:When it comes to her, I don't think. I just do whatever comes to mind. I become irrational in ways that leave me in awe. I didn't plan to kiss her in my office. A part of me itched to, probably because our bond was still there, and I had always managed to keep my fickle desires at bay until then.I was partially grateful for her stomping on my foot so harshly; I would've gone all the way with her. The aftermath of that was something I wasn't ready to deal with. The only issue was how to get her out of my life and mine as soon as possible before she completely infiltrates my existence and I have no control over my actions.I usually don't like to use torture; hell, it wasn't like she was my enemy, the moon goddess was. She paired me with such a stubborn woman after all. I thought I had succeeded in making it clear to her, yet she seemed far from understanding.For the first time in a while, I thought about what to do with Scarlett De Luca, and it was clear that I had to make it ha
JAX:"Hide," Scarlett spoke in a hushed tone."Why should I?" I refused. "We're not doing anything wrong.""Can you just try to understand? It's bad enough that Rosie's accusing me of sleeping with you to get this job," she groaned."Don't mind anything that she says. She doesn't make sense most of the time.""Trying to get you to reason with me is useless," she hissed."Miss?" The maid knocked again."A minute, please," she raised her voice. "Sit," she instructed me, leaving me shocked. If commanding me was a surprise, then she might've succeeded.She got a file out and gave it to me."We shouldn't have taken too much time to open the door, but I suppose this would do since you're so eager to put me in jeopardy," she muttered."Do you have to care so much about what other people think?"She didn't reply to me. Instead, she proceeded to open the door.She must be upset. Truthfully, we were doing nothing incriminating; moreover, whatever we did was none of their business. If I wanted,
JAX:"I'd prefer to see your stylist myself, please. That would be more convenient," I replied."Alright," he smiled."My personal assistant and I would like to excuse ourselves," I announced."She's not done eating," Aaron spoke for her."I see," I narrowed my eyes, went to her side of the table, grabbed her plate of spaghetti and meatballs, and gestured for her to get up. "I'll sort that out with her. Isn't that right, Scarlett? We have a schedule to plan.""Yes, Alpha Jax," she stood up. "Thank you for the meal, your majesties." She bowed, following behind me."Next time, you don't have to bow to them. You're my person, you came with me-""As an assistant," she interrupted me."As my assistant," I corrected her. "And as your employer, I believe I have the right to make clarifications regarding the things you do wrong, but of course, you can treat yourself so little if you wish to.""Why do you care? I'm just your employee," she laid emphasis on the last words."Just because," I sim
JAX:"With this ointment, the marks will quickly fade," the nurse at the infirmary said."Thank you."She blushed. "Yes, Alpha Jax.""If you're okay, we can go now." I turned to Scarlett, who sat examining her semi-bruised wrist."I'm okay." She stood and followed me as I led her to the car. My guards and chauffeurs were waiting, but I dismissed them, much to Scarlett's dismay.I knew she was dying to know why we were going alone, but instead, she remained quiet throughout the ride. I was making her uncomfortable, and I hadn't even tried to. Yet.I stopped in front of the building that caught my attention on our way to the palace. A luxury store for jewelry, accessories, and clothing.YARA; FOR WOMEN. A well-known popular clothing brand.Scarlett looked at me bewildered."Get down," I told her."Why are we here?" She finally said something."Because I want to be here," I replied. "What color was the dress Aaron gave you to wear to the party?""Floral green," she replied."I want to ge
SCARLETT :Alpha Jax had been acting entirely weird towards me in the last forty-eight hours, as if he had multiple personalities. After trying to explain why it would look weird not to wear what I had already accepted, I gave in to the breeze and let it carry me into an unconscious state that was disrupted by the feeling of someone's hand on my face."What are you doing?" My voice was almost inaudible due to our proximity."I was waking you up," he lied. No one wakes another person by touching their lips and cheek."By touching my lips and face?" I was conflicted by my inability to seduce him, but maybe I didn't have to try so hard. This was another chance. I just had to see if it would work."Would you be okay with me shaking you awake like an object?" he asked."No, there are many other ways," I replied, still speaking softly. I unbuckled my seat belt and leaned towards him to match the closeness of his body to mine. The car windows were tinted, ensuring no one could see inside.I
SCARLETT :"Scarlett," he called after me. "Stop walking." I continued."I'm going to drive away and leave you here. Is that what you want?"My heart tugged harder as the tears kept rolling. Like he cares. I moved as fast as I was able to.He was behind me, the next minute he wasn't. He was really going to leave. Water from nowhere fell on my nose. I was still crying, but I was damn sure those weren't from the salty waters of my eyes.I looked up to the sky and saw it begin to darken, like my life was only the shades of grey in the skies had meaning, purpose, and usefulness. The darkness in mine didn't.Just when I was lost, swarming in my thoughts, did I realize I was in the middle of the road, a loud speeding truck honked in my direction.I needed to move, or I'd die, yet I stood there. I mean, I wanted to run to avoid meeting an inevitable doom, but that seemed hopeless, not when I had watched someone dear to me pass away due to something similar.My aunt Darla, my father's sister.
SCARLETT :His warmth, in contrast to the cold weather, usually unmatched, made me want to open up. I knew the probability of him actually caring only existed in my dreams. He must've pitied me so much that he had to pretend to be extraordinarily affectionate, and I truly didn't mind. I'd take it if it was all I could get.I had no understanding of what this feeling was. Chances were it wouldn't count after I broke our bond, yet I wanted to sink myself into it."I was only nine," I began. "My twin and I were out with our Aunt, her name was Darla." I shifted, recollecting the memories. "She was exactly like the female version of my father. She was a hard worker, so she didn't come around much, and when she did, we would go out to the park, get ice cream. She was like that big older sister, only eighteen years older. On that day..."Alpha Jax stayed silent, but his gentle stroking of my hair gave me all the encouragement I needed. "We went to the park like we had always done. Some time
HARRISON CAGE :I was on my way to make a report to the Alpha, my old friend, when I collided with a woman who caught my attention by simply being there. Those who had known me since before I was born, or at least since my birth, would say that I fell for her because she reminded me of a certain person. Scarlett De Luca.After our brief encounter, I longed to see her again, to hear her voice at least. I had never cared much for another being until her. Words cannot describe the way she made me feel.Subtly, yet desperately, I would pass by the Alpha's chambers just to see if she would come out or something. I wanted to step in to catch a glimpse of her, but the Alpha's glare deterred me at first.I was content with seeing her leave work. I was content with Sophie rambling loudly about how cool Scarlett was to the Beta. I was fine until Logan captured her. That was when all my morale disappeared. I, a man who was said to never glance at another woman, not even once, was filled with rag
SCARLETT :The kiss awakened feelings I thought were dead within me, emotions I believed I would never experience again after what Logan did to me. The touch of his lips elicited soft gasps from me, which he took advantage of by slipping his tongue into my mouth, intertwining us completely. There was tenderness and urgency in his movements.I clutched his shirt at the sides to steady myself. We broke the kiss to catch our breath, our foreheads touching as I stood on my toes to add a bit to my height."See? You want me too," his voice was gruff, deep, and filled with lust. He whispered in my ear, "And I bet even if you try to deny it, the scent of your arousal won't lie."If we were in a different situation, I might have reacted differently, but his words made my chest tighten. The heat between us dissipated, memories resurfaced like an abyss I couldn't escape. My heart raced, but this time it wasn't with pleasure or desire; it was with terror."Look at how wet you are for me. Do you d
SCARLETT :The noise outside the door grew rowdier. I stepped out of the water, grabbed a towel, and my phone to text Sophie.Scar: Hey!I texted her, waiting so long that my lower teeth dug into my lower lip, thinking it might bleed. I would have called, but I was too scared to speak in case the boys realized there was a girl in the bathroom.Soph: ... Sup.Scar: I'm trapped in the steam bathroom for trainees.Soph: I'll get help.Scar: No, wait. Just come, there's a bunch of dudes outside, and I need you to distract them so I can get my clothes and leave.Soph: On it.I waited on the bench opposite the steam bath, hoping my twin would arrive in time. Suddenly, the murmurs increased, quieted down, and I heard footsteps fading away.I could finally breathe. The doorknob moved, and I proceeded to open the door."Soph—" I looked up and found whiskey eyes looking down on me, literally because the Alpha towered over me in size and height. "What are you doing here?" I seethed."Saving you
SCARLETT :"Fine," he groaned."Thank you," I breathed out. "See, it wasn't that hard.""Let's start over tomorrow," he suggested.I refuted, "I want back in today. I'll get some rest, handle my work, ask Sophie to get me a protein bar or something, and I'll take it from the beginning again.""I'm just starting to realize how stubborn you are," a small grin appeared at the corner of his lips, more like a smirk."I do hope you do not think that I stand here before you today by being meek and agreeing with everybody," I told him."Certainly not! I like my people fiery like fireballs," he smiled fully, making me return the same energy."Then get ready because I come in blazing flames.""I'm always ready," he groaned and stretched. "Alright, enough chit and chatter. Go back to getting some rest, I'll give the boys a day off, that way, I can focus on you.""Alright, captain," I mockingly saluted. "I'll get to texting Sophie for a protein bar and an energy drink.""Make that a protein bar,"
SCARLETT :My head was blank for a while, and I felt like I was back in the hellhole I was in weeks ago. My head stung bitterly from the migraine threatening to cut my thought process to smithereens.I opened my eyes to the familiar ambiance of the Alpha's office.No, Cage wouldn't have brought me here after telling me to stay away from the Alpha. Although my entire body ached with the need for rest, I got to my feet and made my way out of his chambers. It was still early, but the guards were outside his door with their usual grunting expressions. I'd give anything to see them smile or get mad. They were like programmed machineries.It was only a matter of time before Reyes and the rest of the staff resumed, and the Alpha, who rarely came to work that early, was obviously at the pack house.My heart thumped at the prospect of seeing him again after what happened between us the previous day. I didn't want to react to that man in any way. I just needed my freaking heart to understand me
SCARLETT :I braced myself for the next warm-up.Jogging through tires couldn't be as hard as push-ups.I stumbled at first, my foot catching on the rubber, nearly sending me sprawling.Cage's barked laugh echoed behind me. "Coordination isn’t your strong suit, is it?""Shut up!" I shouted, fuming. "I barely caught a break, that's why." I retorted before hopping through the tires with renewed determination.Next came stability drills. He balanced a heavy sandbag on my shoulders while I stood on one leg atop a wobbly wooden platform."This is ridiculous," I groaned, the bag threatening to topple me."This is survival," he corrected, circling me like a predator. "If you can hold steady under pressure here, you won’t falter in the field.""What field?" I almost yelled. "I'm doing this for self-protection!""Just saying. Who knows, you might sign up for war if it comes down to it.""Never." I nearly fell but caught myself, shooting him a triumphant glare before he could mock me. "Still st
SCARLETT :Today marked my official turning point, the day where I leave all my physical weaknesses behind to embrace strength. I was out in the cold morning; summer was fading, and winter was here.It had been more than three months since the Alpha and the bond walked into my life.I was clad in a warm hoodie, flexible thick leggings, and combat boots Cage gifted me. Relying on finding training clothing in a dressing room mostly designed for men because, of course, ninety-five percent of the pack's army was made up of men.Cage walked me to the training ground, and I was amused.It stretched out under the mid-morning growing sun with racks of training weapons lined up in their tracks: swords, knives, arrows, and guns. Oh my goodness. The only weapon I had ever held in my life was a knife for cooking, and those knives could even be called daggers; they looked so pointy and sharp that I bet they'd kill in an instant.Goosebumps covered my skin at the thought; I hoped to never have a re
SCARLETT :"Wait, Scarlett," Cage followed behind me. "You just looked so cute with your dimples I wanted to capture the moment," he explained, walking behind me, ignoring the fact that the pack house was busy and staff could see what was going on."I don't look cute," I spun around, lowering my voice. "Don't speak too loudly; I don't want people getting any funny ideas.""Okay," he spoke in a whisper. "But I'm not deleting the picture.""Cage," I whined. "I mean, Sir Cage.""It's Sir Cage now?""There are people around.""Sophie would agree with me," he defended himself."Too bad she's not here," I retorted."Yo! Bestie and twin."Speak of the devil. My sister ran to meet us, leaving the Beta's side, who stood waiting like a bodyguard. I forgot how close Cage's office was to the Beta's. The buildings weren't so distant like the Alpha's place. Sophie and I rarely saw each other at work. I was glad I'd be able to see her more often.I re-registered her words. When did she and Cage beco
SCARLETT :Shame.That, paired with guilt, washed over me as I left the Alpha's chambers.How could I give in so easily?Why was using my brains so hard?I threw all my self-respect away again. I shouldn't have let him kiss me. I should have pushed him away, yet, I did not. I allowed the man I vowed to never touch to get to me once more. It would have been super easy to deny if my core wasn't throbbing with need or if I did not feel any sort of stickiness between my thighs. Clearly, my hormones did not grasp the severity of the situation.I kept ranting in my head when a large arm gripped my small one, turning me back. My heart skipped like it would jump out of me, thinking it was the Alpha, but calmed down when I saw Cage's face."Are you okay?" He asked me. "I have been calling you for some time now.""Oh," I said, still trying to compose myself. "I'm sorry." I shook my head. "I was thinking about something.""It's fine," he sighed. "I'm just glad you're okay.""Yeah," I faked a smi