~RalphThe auctioneer stepped up with a list of items to be auctioned off for charity. As he entered the room, everyone, including me, applauded. He held a microphone in his hands, and the items he presented were stunning.“Thank you all for the warm welcome,” he said into the microphone. “As you know, this charity event is a well-established tradition, so let’s get started with the auction.”The crowd clapped again as he moved to the first item. He raised the microphone to his mouth and announced, “Our first item is a very rare vase. This piece has been passed down through generations and is considered an antique.”“Oooh!” the audience responded in awe.It was no surprise that people were excited; antique items always attracted a lot of interest. I could tell that everyone had heard the news and decided this was the perfect occasion to showcase such a valuable piece.“I’ll start the bidding at $250,” the auctioneer announced, addressing the audience. “Who’s willing to bid $250 for th
~OtsanaWe both flinched at the sound of Ralph's loud voice. I must have been so caught up in my emotions that I hadn’t even noticed he was there. The last thing I wanted was for Callan to get into trouble because of this.Ralph marched toward us, his footsteps heavy and filled with anger. It was clear from his body language that he was on the verge of losing his temper.“Um… I was just trying to protect her from the cold,” Callan said, his voice slightly defensive. “It’s really chilly out here, so I offered her my jacket to help her stay warm.”Ralph’s expression made it obvious that he wasn’t convinced, even though Callan’s explanation was entirely truthful. Ralph didn’t say a word at first, instead slowly raising his eyelids to regard us with a look of frustration.After taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ralph finally spoke. “Just get the car ready. We’re leaving anyway.”His tone left no room for argument, and it was clear that we needed to wrap things up quickly.Ralph walk
~Otsana"Excuse me?" he repeated, his tone laced with confusion.In that moment, I felt completely foolish. My mind went blank, and I couldn't string together a single coherent sentence. Embarrassment washed over me, especially after my impulsive outburst.Before I could even attempt to recover, Lucien appeared, walking over with an air of authority that only added to my anxiety. “What’s going on here? I hope you’re not bothering my guest, Otsana?” he asked, his voice sharp enough to make me jump.Guest? My mind reeled at the word. Just yesterday, Lucien and this man had seemed like sworn enemies, yet here they were, acting like old friends. The shift was so sudden that I struggled to comprehend it.The man beside me chuckled softly, diffusing the tension. “Oh, she’s not bothering me at all,” he said, his voice smooth and reassuring. “We were just talking about the bracelet. I wanted it, but I suppose losing to you wasn’t so bad after all.”I looked up at him, surprised by his unexpec
~OtsanaI stared at him, puzzled by his strange response. His voice had carried an unsettling tone, and I was unsure how to react. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, shaking me from my confusion. Seeing his amusement, I couldn’t help but laugh along, though I was still bewildered by his behavior.“You should have seen your face,” he chuckled. “You looked like I was about to eat you or something. Seriously, calm down. I don't have time for all this drama.”With that, he dropped the bow and arrow and walked away, leaving Kate and me exchanging puzzled glances. His odd behavior was starting to get on my nerves, and I wondered how long he’d be around.“Such a weirdo,” I muttered under my breath, returning to my practice as I tried to shake off the strange encounter.“You're getting better at this,” a familiar voice said, causing me to turn and see Ralph walking toward us with his hands tucked into his pockets.Oh no!Was he going to punish me for practicing archery? He had no idea I’d been
~ RalphI felt a surge of anger building up inside me as I watched her intently. She was staring at him while he cooked, and a familiar sense of irritation took hold. I didn’t like the way they were looking at each other, nor did I appreciate the way she smiled at him.The sight of her expression only fueled my anger. “So, you really like this, huh? A man who can cook for you and do things that you enjoy?” I asked sharply.She turned to me, confusion evident on her face. “I don’t mean it like that,” she said quickly. “I just think it’s nice that he can do things on his own and isn’t just waiting around for someone else to do them for him.”“So you think the others can’t do things for themselves?” I interrupted, not giving her a chance to finish. She tried to clarify, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen. Instead, I grabbed an apron and tied it around myself, ready to jump into the situation.“Let me show you what a real man can do in the kitchen,” I said with determination.She looked a
~RalphAt that moment, I felt completely lost. The weight of everything that was happening was pressing down on me, threatening to crush me under its sheer force. The situation was spiraling out of control, and despite all the power I wielded as the alpha, I felt helpless. There was only one person I could think of who might be able to help, and the thought of relying on him made my stomach turn.Alec, with that insufferable grin plastered across his face, sat down across from me. It was as if he was enjoying my misery, relishing the fact that I was now the one coming to him. The smug look in his eyes made me want to rip him apart, but I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get the better of me. I had to play this carefully.“What’s up?” he asked casually, as if we were old friends catching up over drinks instead of facing a life-and-death crisis. His nonchalance only fueled my anger, but I forced myself to remain calm. Losing my temper wouldn’t do me any good right now.I glanced over
~RalphAt that moment, I felt completely lost. The weight of everything that was happening was pressing down on me, threatening to crush me under its sheer force. The situation was spiraling out of control, and despite all the power I wielded as the alpha, I felt helpless. There was only one person I could think of who might be able to help, and the thought of relying on him made my stomach turn.Alec, with that insufferable grin plastered across his face, sat down across from me. It was as if he was enjoying my misery, relishing the fact that I was now the one coming to him. The smug look in his eyes made me want to rip him apart, but I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get the better of me. I had to play this carefully.“What’s up?” he asked casually, as if we were old friends catching up over drinks instead of facing a life-and-death crisis. His nonchalance only fueled my anger, but I forced myself to remain calm. Losing my temper wouldn’t do me any good right now.I glanced over
~Otsana"We had a deal, and I'm not backing down until he shows up," Cabin repeated, his voice cold and menacing.As much as I wanted him gone, a part of me was torn about Ralph's return. It wasn’t that I wished him harm, but the thought of him coming back didn’t exactly fill me with excitement either.Cabin, the head of the rogues, was seething with anger. His rage was palpable, and he looked ready to lash out at Jasper and Callan, who stood before him, unfazed. They were clearly not intimidated by his fury."Are you going to say something?" Cabin demanded, his patience wearing thin, each word dripping with venom.I cringed, fearing what might come next. Callan, however, remained unfazed, ignoring Cabin as if he wasn’t even part of the room or the conversation.Suddenly, in a fit of rage, Cabin swept everything off the desk, sending papers and objects flying. I gasped, shocked at his outburst, anxiety gnawing at me as I imagined how much worse this could get."I'm not stepping down f