“I understand that we are familiar with each other but you shall not question my intelligence and then proceed to utter profanity to my face.” “You-” “Pardon my interruption.” I smile, my gaze finding him but I look over his head because my confidence isn't sufficient to say it. “However I would hate if we let our personal lives cost us this project. I reckon how valuable it is to Ezra and so I'll let that slide.” Knox's head tilts, a deadly smirk on his lips. “Are you threatening me?” “No.” Rhys snorts. “However, Alpha Knox. It appears you're close to earning a lawsuit under the guise of defamation and if I may add a little razzle dazzle, verbal abuse.” “I'd win that case.” I snort, quickly gathering myself and my ego built on the basis of a courtroom winning streak. “I'm mature enough to not let my personal life interfere with my work. Believe me, Alpha Knox, I'm not happy about this either.” “Oh...kay.” Ryan sighs, blowing out a hushed whistle tone. “That's settle
“Thalia?” I gulp, her name of foreign taste on my lips. I've not spoken of her in so long and I was getting used to living without her despite whatever unhealthy bond we previously shared.Angela snaps her fingers, “Bingo. So we all see her and girl let me tell you that room went so silent, except for the kids they-”“Kids?” my heart starts to race. “Bella and Katie Rose?”“No.” Angela snarls, “You need to let me finish. It's Alpha Ezra's kids, apparently, she's a super aunt or something anyhow, back to the entrance. So She enters, and we're shocked, I look towards Brianna she's gagged too and Alpha Knox is beyond pissed.”“What did he do?”“He looked like was ready to snap her neck but Alpha Ezra was so proud of himself for bringing her. Alpha started to be rude, to belittle her competence but her pack defended her. Alpha Ezra even threatened to call everything off if Thalia didn't like something we did.”Alpha Ezra? That's who she joined after leaving here? I never got an answ
Now, I look at him. Trying not to breathe him in because he smells too good for comfort. “I know how much you hate me but for the next few months, you have to put up with me because I'm not going to let Ezra down. I'm not leaving, until everything is done.” I remind him because he seems to have forgotten that I'll be Ezra's project manager. Knox argued I can't do my job, and went as far as to dive deep into investigating my life but he found nothing behind my work life. “For every minute you spend in my sights, on my territory that I exiled you from? I will make your life hell, Thalia.” he warns, and there's certainly no bluff behind it. I know when he's playing, and right now he's not, he could smash my head against the wall with a fucking smile.“Fair enough, I understand and if I were in your position I would too.”“Stop it,” he growls.I frown, genuinely confused now.“I-I'm not doing anything, Knox.”“Alpha Knox.” he instantly corrects.“Right, sorry.” I nearly stutter. “Al
KNOX Thalia has won every case in the last week, no lawyers I've tossed her way have been a match for her. Not once did I think she would become a lawyer, she lacked the spine it takes to get that job done. I used to believe in her potential but the girl that would uncontrollably start crying any time we argued or I raised my voice wouldn't win against the tough lawyers I paid. I went as far as getting lawyers from abroad, to stiffen the competition and if not win to at the very least be able to drag one of the cases out. Yet none of them succeeded, she's apparently good in the courtroom, wins in record time, and with remarkable banter while she's at it. One of the lawyers I sought declined the offer with the reason that he can't let a little girl disgrace him or his career a second time. I recently had my company audited and gave the case to Thalia, I'm incriminating myself to get to her, providing fake evidence too. “My superstar!” Thalia exclaims, noting Alpha Ezra and his da
Her smile drops, and her eyebrows furrow as she stares blankly into my eyes. “Excuse me?”“Unbelievable, you still want to act innocent? Thalia, you couldn't brainwash me into making you my Luna so you go for him? Have you no shame, he's got a family.”“You're mistaken.” she nervously chuckles. “Ezra and I are like family.”I snicker, unable to control my laughter. They're family? “And yet you say his name like that? You both must be truly incestuous because as far as I know, family doesn't screw each other.” I sneer, and I should know considering I have a lot of sisters and cousins I'm close to.“You can say what you will about me but don't you dare utter anything of that nature against Ezra. Regardless of what atrocities your deranged brain must be conjuring, he loves his wife and kids very much. He's an honorable man….” she trails off, glaring at me. “Unlike most.”I shake my head, she's feigning innocence as if she doesn't know what I'm saying but she does, she's just so good at p
NOVASeeing Thalia again after being forbidden from going on the floor she works felt good. I am aware It's hypocritical of me to miss her, and as a sister and aunt I dislike everything that occurred but as a friend? I love who she is. She might have been a terrible mother, mate, or whatnot but she's a good friend. Ever since I saw her covered in cement, claiming Knox didn't push her which in certain he did, we've talked daily. And no, I've not missed how she's been trying to avoid me so I brought it up and we ended up agreeing to be friends again, even if she goes no contact when she leaves. “We should totally get lunch at Fenny's.” I offer, and Thalia gasps.“She still runs the place? I love her food.”“Well not technically but on Fridays she cooks and lucky for us I made a permanent reservation for every Friday.”Her lips pull into a smile, the happiest I've seen her in the two days we've been catching up. “Should we go right now?”“Yeah, but can we stop at the pack house so I can
I frown, my gaze shifting between Bella and Thalia. “Huh?”“She eats vegetables, so she's very pretty.” Bella explains and I finally connect the dots, she thinks Thalia is pretty and I always tell her pretty women ate and ate a lot of vegetables when they were young. “And her hair is shiny. Can I touch it?”“Bella,” Knox calls out in a panicked warning. “Come here.”“Just a tiny touch, tincy winy..” Bella pouts, flat out ignoring Knox.“Me too.” Katie Rose agrees, clapping her hands. Now both the kids are excited. Thalia feigns a laugh and squats down. “Go on.” she urges them, and they waste absolutely no time. They both stroke her hair and gush about how beautiful and soft it is. “I could do this forever.” Katie Rose sighs, pure satisfaction as she feels the strands of Thalia's hair.“Me too.” Arabella Venus agrees, looking up at Mariella. “Mommy you should eat some vegetables too like this lady. Your hair doesn't feel this nice.”I can't help but laugh at the remark. “Okay
Too many questions, too close to him to not fantasize about the accusation. “Because you can.” he snaps, and I hardly get to react or so much so as to get a word in before his lips crash onto mine. Claiming them violently, and too darn hurtful. He's giving me both pain and pleasure, kissing me while purposefully biting my lips and I'm too consumed by lust to notice. “You should leave my territory.” he bites. A moan slips past my lips, consumed into my mouth. “I can't, not yet.” “I hate you.” he snaps, shoving me onto the mattress where I land with a bounce. My rob wasn't exactly fixed for this, it comes undone the moment he throws me, leaving me bare on the mattress as he stares at me like exactly what I became years ago, his prey. “I can't stand you, Thalia Rose Laurel.” “I know.” I nod, licking my lips. He leans over me, grabbing me at the wrists and pinning them above my head. His gaze sweeps over my hard nipples, the way in which my chest rises and falls from being in hi
“you were at work.” I defend myself, he wasn't supposed to be here and neither was I. “I was.” he grunts, grabbing me by my thighs and dragging me. “But now I'm back and this..” he trails off, studying the state of my panties. “I don't want to run into you in my house.” “I can't promise.” I bite out, an honest truth. Knox will have to deal with my presence for a little while longer because I can't break my bond with Nova. A cold sting lands on my ass. “Really?” “Nova needs me.” I yelp, the sting of his hand against my ass sending shivers down my spine. He pulls me down further, and hoovers over me. I watch as he leans into me, smelling me. “Oh, damsel.” “Knox, please.” I cry out, unsure if it's for him to stop or continue. All I know is having this close clouds my brain, and my judgment, it makes me question my existence. “I don't want to touch you but I also can't hear you whimper for another second, you're pissing me off.” I whimper, grinding against his thig
“Why?” “Because Thalia is here.” she says, proceeding to walk away hastily. Just as a scream pierces the air, a raw scream I know all too well. “Thalia?” My heart races, her scream echoing in my brain. She's in pain, I can feel it. Our mate bond never weakened enough for me to not know of things like this, distance helped but having her near has been a game changer. I don’t know who I am with her around, I hate it, I hate her. “Yes.” Nova proceeds to walk away, making me follow her all the way into the kitchen where she damps a liquid in an ice pack. “Where is she?” “She's in the panic room, it seems her heat got a little out of control so I took her in there and ordered off all unmated males from coming here.” Again. She screams making me flinch. “I told her to go home, why is she? Didn't you just drive her to her home?” Nova sighs. “Because I want to take care of my friend and besides, she'll be good in...” she trails off, her gaze lowering to her wrist. “Two
“Getting your nails painted isn't what we pay you to do, frittering company time isn't a meeting, it's insolent.” he snaps, clenching his jaw. “First of all.” Rose laughs, but the sound only seems to make him more angry. “Mr Winslow, you don't pay me a fucking peny. I don't work for you, you're imagining things.” “You may not work for me but still doesn't explain why you insulted my investor rather than signing him as I instructed you to do.” Rose frowns, “Because I don't want to spend embezzled money on a project this pure.” “Embezzled?” he scoffs, “Do not making baseless accusations, do you even know who he is?” She nods, “Yes. But it would seem it is you that doesn't know him, you need to do deeper background checks.” She sighs, “And, if you had gone to your office, you'd have found the file and message I left your assistant and in case you need another reason to throw a tantrum.” She rolls her eyes, “I stopped activities on the second floor, it's unsafe and will resume o
Knox frowns. “What?” “I wouldn't let her go with Nova to see Thalia and now she hates me. Am I losing her? Thought it would take a few years more, to be honest. Teen years..” “No.” he assures me, taking my hand. “You're not, you can't lose her. She's just mad you didn't let her go with Nova.” I shake my head. “She seemed pretty upset.” He nods, pulling me into him and leading me away from the wandering eyes and whispers around me. “She's Bella, of course, she's mad but she will let it go in a while and start pestering you for attention. She's a bit short tempered but she's a good girl, just like her mom.” she grins at me. “Nova shouldn't have told her. Couldn't she have just said she was going to the doctor? Bella hates the hospital.” After a few beats of silence, he sighs. “It's fine, where is she?” “Ryan took her,” I tell him, following him still. We go around the house and find them, Ryan is walking around the car park with Arabella soundly sleeping on his s
MARIELLA I have never wanted to hate Thalia but she makes it so hard for me with the things she does, for example sleeping with Knox. Of course, Knox is at fault too but Thalia shouldn't have told me. I knew they had slept together when Knox returned from the workshop, he smelled so strongly of her but I convinced myself it was because they were together the whole of the weekend and when we had sex, all my anxiety and suspicion died. He no longer smelled her like, there was only me and that was enough to ease my anxiety. However, Thalia's scent lingers stronger than mine ever does but as long as he doesn't smell like her I'm fine. However, I need to get used to seeing her and not being friendly with her. I spent too many years being nothing but a devoted friend and now it's an involuntary action but it has to stop, now. “Arabella's Mommy! Mommy!” Arabella screams, out of view but her voice keeps getting louder because she's coming closer. “Where are you?” she yelps, her voice
“Family lounge!” she yells back, leaning towards the entrance. Knox walks in, hardly acknowledging me. “Where is my-what are you doing here?” he snaps, after taking a second look at me he realizes it wasn't just her here. “I'm just-” His gaze cuts to Mariella. “I thought I told you I didn't want her around my house and much less my child.” “She came to get Nova, they have plans.” Mariella swallows. “Bullshit, they see each other every fucking day, and th-” “I should have waited in the car,” I grumble, interrupting his useless point. Mariella jumps in quickly, “No. It's fine that you're here, right Alpha Knox?” “No.” Knox asserts, “Nova may have won the choice to keep her around but I don't think you should be buddy-buddy with her. Her bad influence could rub off on you, or worse on the kids.” Mariella gasps, “Alpha Knox, that's mean. Thalia-” “No. Knox is right.” I wave her off, causing both of them to stare wide-eyed at me. “I don't think this friendship
“Did you say something?” Knox glares, his eyes piercing.I nod, fully pumped on advice from my therapist. “I said I didn't offer, you bullied me into it, and honestly I'm quite sick of your behavior.”“Ms Laurel.” Amara hisses, warning me I'm poking the bear.“No, let me say this because if I don't say it today then he'll think I am okay with the way things are.” my gaze drifts back to Knox, noting Ryan's return which gives some sort of comfort. “I'm not.”I match his glare. “I'm so fucking done with you bullying me, trying to find faults in my work, which news flash!” I lowly chuckle, “There's none. There aren't any because I'm good at my job. I'm the god darn best lawyer in this region and if me not beating your top lawyers wasn't enough? Try a little Google search.”Ryan laughs, pulling Amara away. “Get in the car, star player.” and there goes my support team.Knox watches me, he didn't expect the outburst. “You should watch your fucking tone when you talk to me.”“I won't, because
THALIA Ever since I came back to Flame Valley I've been nothing but confused, I knew coming here would definitely mess me up in a way but things have gone from bad to worse and I'm afraid I'm becoming the girl my mother walked in half dead on. I promised myself I would never see that look in her eyes again because I don't want to hurt another person I love but I'm afraid I'm failing, I'm falling short of life. Even with my hair done and a pantsuit on, I don't recognize the woman I've grown accustomed to loving. I'm starting to feel just as stupid as Knox claims I am. Not willing to lose the one part of my life that pushes me to live another day, I call my therapist Lana. I have at least thirty minutes before we leave for the last of the Conference today, which I'm fairly looking up to. “Thalia.” Lana smiles at me from my laptop screen, looking as flawless as always. I wonder if that's why people like me trust her with our flaws because she eliminated any surface ones she migh
RYAN Thalia's assistant is quite the looker, and the brains on the girl simply make her way hotter than most girls who throw themselves at me. I'm not blind to the way she looks at me, but if I fuck her? It'll be a damn shame to ghost her, that too an impossible one. The best I can do is keep it professional between us, at least until the night before she leaves, I'm a patient man. “Ugh, Ruston needs to fucking quit. Look at how lousy he plays, he's dragging the entire damn team down with him.” Amara frowns, staring at the TV screen like she could just jump inside. “You see that?” she quickly turns to me before drifting back to the basketball game we're watching. “Useless. Height doesn't cut it alone, Niko! Fucking play for goodness sake you darn spoiled rich brat.” I can't help but laugh at her, despite her trash against my team and complaints about the team she's supporting losing not once has she drifted from the TV. She stares like she could just go and score herself the