SCARLETT :After our tête-à-tête in the morning, I made up my mind to avoid him for the day. From Reyes' expression when I came out of the Alpha's office, he wasn't sure if he was ready to meet him, but he did it for me, only for his fears to be confirmed and for me to be pushed back into that cell he calls an office. I almost could not believe that he gave me a deadline. He really wanted to get rid of me.Would my plan actually work, or should I give up before it's too late? I thought.But then I remembered he was the one who drew me to him first, then tried to push me off just like that. I wasn't going to take it easy with him. He had to pay dearly for treating me worthlessly. I might be an Omega, but that does not make me completely useless.I dropped my bag and slumped on my bed. Not long after, Sophie dragged herself in. I could tell she was exhausted, maybe more than I was."I hate Beta Zharn. He's insufferable..." She began ranting immediately."What do you think? He's best fri
JAX:She has infiltrated my life completely, and I don't know whether it's schemed or not. I keep thinking about her, her stubbornness, and her defiance against me.I connect with my wolf, hoping he'd help me with guidance on how to get her out of my life faster, but he goes on to tell me about how strong our bond actually is and how I should give in to it. He clearly did not know how unfortunate the situation was.It's still early in the morning, and I'm already pouring myself a glass of whiskey while I run through paperwork. I didn't get drunk easily. It would take me more than ten bottles to get me drunk, however, the scorching hotness of the liquid running down my throat and the bulky contracts to read, both on paper and my laptop, gave me something else to worry about.A guard enters my office. I told him not to let anyone in if it wasn't for breakfast. I wasn't hungry; all I wanted was to see Scarlett so I could remind her that the clock was ticking. It wasn't going to be long b
SCARLETT :"Alpha Jax requests your presence, Miss De Luca," one of Alpha Jax's burly guards informed me.I groaned inwardly. "What else could he possibly want from me?" I made sure to drop the food on the table for him."I'll be there in a minute," I replied.They opened the door to his office for me."Taste the food," he ordered me without wasting time.I forgot about that. "Let me go get my cutlery and plate.""Use mine.""It's against the rules.""Who's in charge of making sure those rules are enforced, Scarlett?""You," I answered."Exactly.""So ironic. He's in charge of enforcing the rules but he's the same person breaking them," I grumbled."You really have to stop muttering to yourself when I'm close by. I'd rather you say those words to my face," he added. "And yes, I can bend the rules if I want."Dammit. I keep forgetting that his hearing was really sharp.After testing the food, my instincts told me it would be best to leave. "If that will be all, I'd like to take my leav
SCARLETT :"He's such a jerk, though," my sister rolled her eyes after I narrated the day's ordeal to her."I know."She giggled. "I bet it would have been so funny to see him in pain.""I didn't think he had any other emotion in him," I snorted."Next time, we should make it planned.""I don't think there'll be a next time, Soph," I sighed. "I think I ruined all my chances with him. I can sniff my quit notice from a mile away."Sophie scoffed. "For stomping the Alpha?"I gave her a knowing look."I know. I know. I just wanted to be optimistic," she beamed. "Don't worry, there are lots of amazing jobs around, and better men like Harrison Cageeee." She nudged her shoulder with mine, wiggling her eyebrows."Sophie, please," it was my turn to roll my eyes. "He's just a kind person.""No, he is.""I'm Zharn's assistant," she reminded me. "I've seen Sir Cage, and he's not nice. He's a robot, he's programmed, and he's dangerous. Yet, he was nice to you, and he said he'd see you later. Not t
SCARLETT :"Do you have everything you need?" My mother asked me for the umpteenth time.I've never spent the night away from home, let alone left our pack. My parents were mortified when I told them, but since it was work, they just had to let me.I knew better than to lie to myself. I heard his voice. I wasn't getting away from him so easily. Sophie told me to fake an illness, and I thought hard about the plan, only to back out at the last minute."What if he takes it out on my family or harms Reyes because of this?" He seemed shameless and petty, and I wasn't one to let others take the fall for my actions. The only solution would be to comply."Yes, I do. It's almost seven," I whined."I'll drive you there," my father got his keys."There's no need, papa," I told him. "I can get there on my own.""I just want to make sure you're safe," my father countered."I think your father should accompany you, Sophie can follow," my mother pushed further.We looked in Sophie's direction."Hell
SCARLETT :She buried her face in the crook of his neck, all that was left was a glimpse of her icy blue eyes staring directly into mine. I didn't need to see the rest of her expression to know that she disliked me."Rosie," Jax gently pushed her off him."Behave, sister. Jax just got here, at least let him get some rest," Aaron chided."Jax is a sweetheart, I'm sure he doesn't mind." She pouted. "Isn't that right, Jaxy?"Okay, there's a lot of things I already hate about this place, and it's all Rosie.Alpha Jax is a sweetheart?She already has a ridiculous nickname for him? Why is he letting her call him Jaxy?Are they lovers? My stomach churned at the thought."It's fine, Aaron," he replied. "Rosie's just excited.""Why wouldn't I be? I haven't seen you in two years." She linked her arm with his. "Come, let me show you to your room. I personally redesigned it to your liking." She giggled. My hunch tells me she's pretending to be all angel-like with pretty butterflies floating aroun
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:I drove to the palace myself, heading down to my mother's chambers.My mother’s throne room exuded refined splendor, simple yet commanding. Stone walls were draped in deep blue and silver tapestries bearing the pack’s crest. A black silk rug led to the elevated mahogany throne, carved with wolves and traced with silver accents. She had created the space for herself since my father passed away. The main throne room belonged to me now.An arched window behind it let in sunlight, blending with the warm glow of gold candle holders. Greenery softened the corners with trailing vines.She sat on the throne, her black dress flowing like liquid shadow, catching the light with each subtle movement, along with two female maid servants by her side who left the room as soon as I entered. Her presence was powerful, every breath filled with poised authority, very much like my mother's personality."Mother," I greeted her."Son," she looked at me with disdain, her honey brown eyes holding rage.
JAX:I handed Scarlett the last tissue to wipe her tears. Every time the main characters got into an argument or something tragic happened, she'd tear up, curse the villains, and blame the author.That was the first time I had seen her go from sad to furious."Are you sure you don't want to stop watching?" I asked her, worried for her sanity."No," she sniffed. "There's only thirty minutes left."I groaned inwardly. "Okay."I spent the next thirty minutes wanting to transport myself into the scenes on the screen to finish off the blonde main character Scarlett wouldn't stop fawning over.She laughed because of him, swore because of him, cussed because of him, and cried for him, and all he did was play a role. I doubted he was like that in real life. He's an actor, and actors play pretend."That was amazing," she gleamed.The look on her face was worth it. If she didn't smile like she did at me for letting her watch the movie, I would've sworn to never put myself through the torture of
JAX:"Jax," her sweet voice brought me out of my delusions. She called me by my name. She was getting used to it."Yes," I stuttered like a thief who had been caught. I stuttered. I had never done that before, not since I was a little boy. People barely made a...Scarlett had a look of worry on her face. How I reacted wasn't normal, it wasn't like me. "Are you okay?" Her voice further softened, and I think that did something to me. No one had ever spoken to me like that before, not even my best friend."I am," I replied, regaining my composure."Are you sure?""Yeah, I am.""Okay, that's good because I was asking if you ever cook here.""No," I spoke earnestly. "I sent my last chef away, now Hensley brings me takeouts.""You're ridiculous," she shook her head. "The kitchen looked so spotless, I should've known something was wrong when I saw dust on the utensils. Ugh, why did I assume you'd have ingredients just lying around in the kitchen?"I laughed. "It's a cabin, Scarlett. There's
JAX:The morning sun was hot, scorching, and seeping its rays through my window. I looked at the woman next to me and realized how much of a mess I had made of her. Her waves looked tangled, her lips were swollen, and I replaced the hickeys on her skin where they had begun to fade.I subconsciously traced her eyebrows, moved to her lashes, then her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, staring blankly into mine like she was trying to take in her environment."No," she croaked, rising up.The plan was for her to go back that same night, but that failed because I ended up losing control. My hunger for her took a long time before it got satisfied."It's okay. I told Hensley to send word to your family that you'd be spending forty-eight hours at the pack house tending to me because I'm working overnight for two days, and I'd rather eat only what you make.""That doesn't make any sense," I told her."It might not make sense, but the order came from me so automatically it should.""It's not up to
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 :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
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 :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
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