JAX:The royal pack house had existed for centuries, with its structure changing to adapt to each decade or modern adjustments to make it seem fitting and luxurious. Currently, it was in between antique and in style with the current time.Unlike the Moonrock pack, we only had a large silver gate with wolf ornaments that could accommodate three cars at once if they were able to maneuver their way around it. Requests from the people were brought to the pack house, and emergencies were directed to Zharn or my mother.Around the surroundings were sculpted heads of previous rulers, with the heads getting bigger according to their achievements. My grandfather had the largest head, his reign known as the war era. He charged into battle, seizing lands, conquering domains, without forgetting to pile up generational enemies who threatened to come after my life for his actions.He was known as the war Alpha as well as the greatest who died a natural death. To the public, he was great. To his son
SCARLETT :No matter how much he threatened to punish me, I still came to work. Almost every day I'm at his office, in his car letting him do wicked things to my body.Rosie still calls, and he waits till I'm there before he picks up, not to spite me, but to show where his temporary loyalty lies.I had begun to search for ridiculous things on the internet, like ‘how to make a man fall in love with you in sixty days.’The results were simple:Days 1-10: Build a Foundation. Days 11-20: Foster Trust and Comfort. Days 21-40: Deepen the Bond. Days 41-60: Reflect and Let Things Flow.Days one to ten were gone without me realizing or deciphering what kind of foundation we had laid down for ourselves. Days eleven to twenty were almost gone, and I don't know if what I was feeling was trust or comfort. Heck, I had no idea what Alpha Jax was feeling.All he did was summon me wherever he was, in his chamber, or get his chauffeur to bring me to his cabin. Sometimes he'd be gentle, sometimes he'd b
SCARLETT :"Women aren't toys. I'm not one, don't talk down on me like that," I blurted out of rage. "Go find someone your size to wage war with; you're sick in the head."Alpha Jax looked at me, shocked and satisfied."Are you really going to let a filthy omega talk down to royal blood?" Logan told his brother, his voice sounding sinister."I told you not to come near her," Alpha Jax shot back."You know, this is the problem with you. You take everything for yourself. You make everything about you. Mother appeased me, told you you'd stop being selfish. Guess you're too much of a bastard to do that.""We're twins, but that doesn't mean whatever I own is yours. There are boundaries, Logan," Alpha Jax seethed."You didn't set them when you fucked my girlfriend, did you?"My eyes widened."I was drunk. Shit, I've told you I didn't know it was your girlfriend. It was a mask party."I shook.It's okay.I calmed myself down.He didn't know.They were masked."Sure, like you gotta keep your
JAX:I pleaded with my mother to keep Logan busy until I convinced my unyielding mate to stop coming to work, to take a sick leave at least.Once Logan set his eyes on something that caught his interest, it would be hard for him to let it go. We had that in common. Scarlett was associated with me, therefore, she was on his list of piques.I knew Logan wasn't over that one time. His girlfriend had given me a drink and told me someone needed to see me. I never told him about that part, that she intentionally intoxicated me to arouse me.I'd never betray my brother like that, even if our father and grandfather set us against each other to compete for the position of Alpha.I tolerated everything he had done so far because I wasn't blind to the fact that the family and elders favored me over him, but he cut too deep into my skin for me to bear with.I wished our mother hadn't called for some useless truce so he would stay away himself. I would have banished him myself if there was a way t
SCARLETT :To stop my parents from worrying about me losing my job, I told them the Alpha gave the staff in his chamber some time off. Sophie took a week off work too to help me. I don't know how she convinced the Beta to let her off work when she said he was an irritating jerkface.Our parents were out working, and when they weren't, we'd play games and have a barbecue like old times. The month was almost over, and Sophie wouldn't stop blabbering about her paycheck."Look at this!" She squealed, showing a screenshot on her phone. Sophie was a hairstylist at heart and experimented with different hairstyles.She loved going all out. Today she had bangs, tomorrow she'd style her hair into a bob. Not that frequently, though. She just changed her look once a month.My eyes beheld a flashy set of expensive hair styling tools. "I don't know what these are, Sophie." I reminded her that I was a novice to her favorite items.Sophie's eyes lit up with excitement, the phone gripped tightly as sh
SCARLETT :"What are you thinking about?" Sophie shook me."Nothing," I lied."I didn't take a week off work so I'd have to watch you brood over Alpha Jax," she folded her arms."Damn, I hate how well you know me," I groaned.“That's how it should be. We're twins. Moreover, I'm the older twin. I gotta look out for you, lil sis."I scoffed. "You were older by five minutes, Soph. Not sure how that counts.""Five minutes. That's how much it counts. You spent an extra five minutes bracing yourself to be welcomed into the world.""Whatever makes you sleep at night, Soph," I grinned sarcastically."Oh, I do sleep really well."I grumbled a few words and picked up my phone to watch a movie I had downloaded."Mom's back," Sophie opened the door of our room. We went to welcome her, getting the groceries from her hands."Scarlett, I need you to go get soy sauce," my mom sighed. "I don't understand how I forgot. Your dad is making dinner tonight, and he'll need it.""Can't Sophie go?" I whined.
SCARLETT :I stepped forward, but my sister pulled me back, her anger palpable."Are you so low that you'd threaten us with our parents?" I asked Logan.Logan huffed, "Threaten? I don't need to do that. It's just the truth. In the world of hierarchy, it's only normal that you should know your place, isn't it? Think about it. A lowly omega against a superior royal." He checked his watch. "You're wasting my time, Scarlett. Get in.""Let me go, Soph," I whispered to her. "I have to go. It's getting late, and Mom and Dad might be worried. The sooner I settle this, the better."Reluctantly, my twin let go of my hand."Don't drive away. I need to go home with my sister," I told him as I entered the car."Relax, sweetheart. I don't kidnap people," he chuckled.I rolled my eyes inwardly, waiting for him to get to the point. The car model looked newly launched, but the smell of cigarettes polluted the air. The tinted car windows were closed, leaving no room for fresh air."Can we wrap this up
JAX:I had my chauffeur, Henry, pick up Scarlett from her house. I waited patiently for word to reach me that her parents weren't home, as we had agreed to be discreet around people who weren't trusted staff.I lay on my bed in my cabin, the same bed where I had taken her for the first time, and a few more times after we returned from the Moonrock pack.Only three days had passed, and I became a man starved for her. I stared restlessly into space, waiting for her arrival. I missed the feeling of her in my arms, the tugging of her lower lip, her soft blonde hair, and the scent of her body and shampoo.As long as the bond existed, I would forever be damned if I didn't have her. A gentle knock on the door made me sit upright, grab a file from the nightstand, and pretend to go through it.Why appear as a restless dog waiting for its owner when I could appear composed enough to match my status?I cleared my throat as if I hadn't spoken in a long time. "Come in."The door creaked open, reve
SCARLETT :"Breathe, Scar, I'm begging you," Sophie said tearfully, covering me with more clothing than I had on earlier.I wanted to reach for the anxiety pills Lucinda recommended to me, but I couldn't let Sophie know how much I was affected. It would kill her, I just knew it. My sister's sanity was important. If she knew everything, she'd go berserk, perhaps even more than my father would.On second thought, my father would try to bring down the whole world. Nonetheless, it was something I had to hide for good measure.I focused on what my therapist taught me."It's not real. It's not real.""Water," I called out, my throat dry and scratchy from all the tension."What's going on?" Cage barged into the locker/dressing room."She needs water," my twin replied frantically. Cage bolted in and out, returning with a bottle of room temperature water that I gulped down instantly.When I calmed down, questions set in like some paparazzi invasion."Did he hurt you?""What did he say?""I'm s
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