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
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
“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
“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
“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
THALIA Two days later, I'm no longer in heat with only a few symptoms lingering. It's been great feeling relief free while dedicating my time at work to avoiding Knox as best as I can. Not just him, but literally everyone from his pack because I didn't want them to smell him on me. I've been wallowing in guilt, and self pity while stuffing my face with caramel and cheese popcorn, an accidental flavor discovery that I've grown obsessed with. Considering I'm a stranger to the kitchen, this meal has carried me through the days, with everything else I attempt to make nauseating me. That's how bad I am in the kitchen, I can't smell my own food. I'm licking the last of my popcorn coating off my fingers, my eyes glued to the TV when a knock brings me out of my daze. I'm not expecting any guest, and not many people have this address so when another knock lands on the door, I assume it's a delivery of some sort, seeing I've been shopping online a lot. “Keir.” my mouth hangs open, t
THALIA The moment is perfect. No, correction—it was supposed to be perfect but it's not. I'm losing my sanity, the last bit of it that's left after my mate openly admitted to cheating on me because I never can be good enough for him or the ideal expectations of his pack. All the pain I've felt over the last couple of years was to be erased by today but instead it piled up into one and hit me in a gaint wave. It's simply not fair, today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, the day I was to meet the perfect little gift the moon goddess sent me but it's turned into nothing but a tormenting stillness. My gaze shifts from the bright pink walls of the hospital room to where my best friend stands, her back to me while she talks on the phone. Even there I can see the same color wall taunting me, its the exact shade of my daughters nursery. I push myself off the bed and walk towards Mariella, her whispers now loud enough for me to hear. “No, please come and see her. Thalia
Thalia.” Mariella interrupts, “Go and see her. See your daughter even if it's the last time please go and hold that little girl.” “No.” I shake my head, falling to the floor in tears. Mariella saw Arabella and hasn't stopped sobbing since, I can't see her. I want to but it's selfish to have her murderer hold her or prepare her for cremation. “Don't bring or let her near me. I can't look a her, please understand Knox. Leave me alone, you can bury her or cremate her but just don't—” Knox's face twists with contempt. “How could you even say that..” he trails off, for the first time since he heard I was pregnant, I see him cry. “You know what, Thalia? I wouldn't even dream of letting you anywhere near my daughter.” I nod, tears streaming down my face while I refuse to look at him. I can't decide what hurts more between losing my daughter or the way he looks ay me. “I prefer it that way.” “I can't believe I fell in love with you, you keep telling me I'm harsh but it's you that need
THALIA Two days later, I'm no longer in heat with only a few symptoms lingering. It's been great feeling relief free while dedicating my time at work to avoiding Knox as best as I can. Not just him, but literally everyone from his pack because I didn't want them to smell him on me. I've been wallowing in guilt, and self pity while stuffing my face with caramel and cheese popcorn, an accidental flavor discovery that I've grown obsessed with. Considering I'm a stranger to the kitchen, this meal has carried me through the days, with everything else I attempt to make nauseating me. That's how bad I am in the kitchen, I can't smell my own food. I'm licking the last of my popcorn coating off my fingers, my eyes glued to the TV when a knock brings me out of my daze. I'm not expecting any guest, and not many people have this address so when another knock lands on the door, I assume it's a delivery of some sort, seeing I've been shopping online a lot. “Keir.” my mouth hangs open, t
“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