*Ares’ POV* Dominic must have figured out where the journalists were,that was the only explanation. And it's at the right timing too,just after the journalists agreed to confess in court,,he rents out the event hall right in front of the warehouse where I'm keeping them and invited me. I don't know what his plan is with that move but moving so hastily means he is nervous, and that's exactly what I want. “Do you think the security we put is enough?”Elais asked,adjusting his cufflinks. “Yes.”I replied curtly. “What If we walk into his trap?” I sighed thoughtfully. “He doesn't have the guts to pull anything in front of hundreds of people.” “If you are so sure he is Saint Locke,I don't think any amount of people will stop him.” I turn to look at Elais in the face. “Stop being so pessimistic. Let's just follow the plan, and everything will turn out fine.” I glanced at my watch and pushed my hand in my pocket. “It's time.” I step into the event hall, the atmosphere buzzi
Selene’s POV Who does he think he is, bossing and carrying me around like I’m some fragile doll? I didn't need his protection before, and I certainly don't need it now. My heart drummed in my chest,I'm not sure if it was from the sound of the guns or his touch. It's definitely the guns. I stood by the door for a second longer, my pride demanding I delay entering the room. I wasn't following his orders—no, I was just making sure that I was safe. Still, the memory of his fingers pressing into my shoulders lingered, warm, and possessive. My body reacted to it like an addictive drug I had been starved from for years. And it felt terrifying,I dont think I have felt so much since...him. And even worse,something deep in me felt ready to obey,without question or hesitation. No,no,no,get yourself together, Selene. I forced a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and pushed the door open, stepping into the cold, mechanical room. The door clicked shut behind me, the darkness swallowing me w
*Selene's POV* *Next Day* “Where did you get that?”I asked, snatching the paper from her hand. The flyer showed an announcement of the complete demolition and renovation of Olive Grown District. My father's house was at the heart of the district, and what was worse was that it was going to be turned into a landfill. “I found it plastered on a street sign on my way here,”Greta stated. “They are all over the city.” I folded the paper and threw it out the window in a fit of anger.What on earth was it going on? Who was doing this? Not only did the price of the house go up by twice its worth but now it was not going to be demolished. Now, not only do I have to pay a ridiculous amount for what was originally mine.. I also have to fight to keep the place from being broken and run down. I fell to the chair and pressed on my temples,trying to evoke calm,serenity or anything remotely different from the panic I was feeling. Was it Ares–no? Why would he? “I know how much you wanted
*Dominic's POV* “Good morning. "I exclaimed in excitement as the nurse pushed my chair forward. “Dominic?”Caleb asks,coming to a full stop,as if he doesn't really believe it's me he is seeing. “Caleb?”I return in the same tone. Caleb shakes his head and asks the nurse for privacy. The nurse looks down at me for approval, and I nod slowly,still keeping my eye on Caleb. “You don't know how glad I am to see you here.”I began when the nurse was out of ear shot. “I was beginning to think no one cares about my well-being.” “Were you really shot?”Caleb asks instantly. I stare down at my legs to make sure,he seemed so in disbelief that I had to make sure the last nine hours were reality and sure enough I could still see the bandage wrapped around my leg. “Do you not see this?”I asked,pointing at my injured leg. “What more proof do you need?” “Tell me the truth,were you shot last night?”Caleb pressed. “Just be honest for once.” As if that noble virtue has ever gotten me anyw
"Why is your face scrunched?" Yolanda asked mockingly. "This could be your chance to right your wrongs."I scoffed and threw my hair behind my shoulder. "What are you two blabbing about this time?"“To be honest, I didn’t want to go this far. I know how much you adore this place,” Noelle began, circling me slowly like a predator. I'm almost impressed by this new found confidence she was exhibiting.Maybe it came from dressing up as me. “But you’re just so cocky and disrespectful, I had to teach you a lesson. See how funny life can be?” Noelle smiled, coming to a full stop in front of me. “Maybe if you had treated me nicer, we wouldn’t be here right now,would we?”“Aw,” I smirked. “Is this what this is about? Does my baby sister want an apology?”Noelle's smile vanished, and her gaze darkened.“Don’t call me that, you and I don’t share a drop of blood.”“Oh please, what do you know about your roots?” I asked, raising a brow. “Have you asked Yolanda who your real mother is yet? Or are yo
Ares' POV I spotted her immediately—Selene. She stood by the curb, arms crossed, her face set in that familiar look of irritation that I had grown almost fond of. Almost. I smirked as I killed the engine and stepped out of the car, my shoes crunching against the gravel. She didn't even bother with pleasantries. "Finally,I was beginning to think you intentionally wanted me to go to work lat." she snapped, her voice sharp as a knife. No hello. No patience. Classic Selene. I offered my hand for a mere unshakeable but was denied that too. I reached into my jacket and pulled out the file, holding it up just long enough for her to see before lowering it again. “It took a few extra minutes to make sure that the house and the very land it stands on is not only state property but yours too. It was a difficult document to process.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Look at that,you are actually useful.” "You're in a hurry, aren't you?" I said casually, watching her eyes narrow i
Dominic's POV The hospital air was thick with the smell of disinfectant. I hated it—the sterile, cold atmosphere, the constant beeping of machines. It reminded me of–unpleasant times. I was gradually getting sick of pretending to be more injured than I was, tired of being here, stuck, slacking when I had work to do. It felt like a prison more than a place of healing. Tonight will be my last night. I had decided to announce That I could magically walk tomorrow and that would be it…I have already accomplished what I wanted here. I stared long and hard at myself,wondering if all I was doing was worth it,I had revealed my background,implied that my adopted family was to blame for the attack–which angered my brother greatly and got myself shot in the leg. All in a gamble of winning Selene and getting rid of Ares at the same time. This might be the first mission I'm invested in and the bitch didn't even care to come see me…I chuckled at myself. I had every woman at my beck and call
*Yolanda's POV* “Yes,my birthday is in a week.”I said with a smile as I busied myself running my fingers on the new silverwares I got for the occasion. “I don't think now is the right time to return to IronClaw.”the voice at the end of the line replied. “I heard your step daughter has returned.” “Oh please.”I scoffed. “Do you really think I'm going to stop my own birthday party just because she exists?.” “Yolanda…I still don't think coming there is a good idea.” My fingers found a tiny rust on one of the tea spoons and picked it up to examine it further.I had asked for the best of the best in everything. And here I was seeing rustic cutlery sitting on the table. If it were Silvia who asked,the servants would have made everything glistening for her. What importance does she even have? We are both mothers of the leaders of the pack and she gets treated far better than I ever did. I inhaled a sharp breath and returned my attention to my phone call. Important matters first. “Do
*Selene's POV*Detachment. It has always been my strong suit, or at least I thought it was before I began loosing my prorities. Either way,what matters now are the important things, like the reason I fought so hard for that house in the first place. I carefully installed a pair of hoop earrings and adjusted my hair off my face. Staring at myself in the mirror, I decided to give my lips another coat of lipstick.Greta came into the room with freshly washed towels, humming a carefree song as she waddled into the closet.“Has anything arrived in the mail?” I asked absently.“No,” she yelled from the closet. “Nothing yet.”I was expecting the invitations by now—Yolanda's birthday was tonight, and I couldn’t miss it. I began to consider getting the tickets myself.“Are you expecting anything?” Greta asked, attempting to make conversation. But I wasn’t really in the mood to talk; it had been hard to get in the mood for anything since the ‘incident.’I adorned my fingers with golden snake r
*Ares’s POV* I've been measuring how strong I am or in better words how deep this obsession was rooted…and I have come to a pretty confusing conclusion. I can bring myself to resist the urge to see her and confront her and yet at the same time,I can't get her damn face,voice,smell out of my brain. I have spent most of my time in my office since my little delightful “discovery”,What was I expecting anyway? I was chasing after a woman who glady branded herself as a man killer and I had somehow expected not to be killed. Maybe–just maybe she is too far gone. Besides,all the time I had spent with her had done nothing but weigh upon the thread that she might be my Luna. If she was,she would say it by now and her hair seemed completely jet black…it makes absolutely no sense to have someone so hell bent on destroying me so close to me. Anyway,I have come to realise that whenever I'm under stress,I become a workaholic…which by the way is just perfect for the situation. So far,I
*Selene's POV* “Are sure he is going to come?”Cassie asked for the third time in an hour. I glanced at the clock and the wall and nodded. “Of course he would.”I say,trying to keep my mind positive,but even my own voice sounded doubtful. “Why wouldn't he?” Cassie did a wide eyed blink and I knew right then and there that I was going to regret asking that question for at least two days. “Well,lets start with the basics.”she began,proudly laying the foundation to crush my heart and ego. “He is ignoring your calls,spending more time with his supposed wife on live TV and he might already know that you are the spy that–” I tapped my fingers on the chair anxiously and Cassie stopped talking when she noticed she was the cause of the tapping. “He's only two hours late and I am definitely sure he will have no problem coming to the most controversial brothel in town even though it might ruin him.”she added,her sarcasm hitting me like a slap in the face. “I think that's enough external p
*Yolanda's POV* I was at my last wine tasting for my party before he informed me that Victor had gone to the main castle,and not only that,he stood before the ex luna and told her he was my friend and was looking for me. Suddenly the fruity taste that lingered on my tongue turned citrus sour. “What?”I asked the maid standing before me. “A friend of yours,Victor, is sitting in the living room with Lady Silvia.” I felt air vanish from my lungs and the maid,seeing my reaction,offered the little comfort she could manage to provide. More information. “We wanted to send him away,but he was adamant and the ex luna wanted to talk to him…oh and Noelle came too.” That was way too much for me to bear,what if that rascal says something about my past,or about Noelle or straight up magically gained a conscience and wanted to confess. I rushed into the parlour,trying my best to reach there soon enough and also somehow not appear like a crazy woman in front of the maids on duty. I barged
*Selene's POV* I was fuming. He was not picking my calls. And I feel like I'm about to choke my own neck out. I saw him and Noelle on tv this morning again,I think he is way too dedicated to this damn lie. When I told him to pretend,I didn't actually expect him to go on an interview and actually say that I was just a story used against his marriage and he literally doesn't understand why these rumours were being spread. It almost felt like he was disassociating,I do this often but never been at the receiving end of the treatment. Dominic came up to me with a small glass of water. “Are you okay?”he asked,handing me the glass. “You seem shaken.” Then,suddenly it hit me. The thing that has been clouding my mind all day,messing up my lines,screwing with My senses,might be…no way. Was I—jealous? Obviously not,that would be stupid,I asked him to get back with her,I couldn't be jealous if it was my own plan right?But yet and still,a sharp sting hit my chest like small
*Ares POV* It was almost nine pm. I had missed dinner,and I didn't even care. Noelle wasn't exactly the most jovial person these days and everything about her was beginning to annoy me again. I was going to the old Italian restaurant at the end of town to meet somebody and though my eyes were on the road,my mind was far away. Mostly on the results of my meeting tonight. While my mother was taking care of the situation with the Council,I had to keep things running smoothly with the pack,to settle them and their very valid fears by the way. There is a murderer in town and despite how crooked the victims were,they were a part of my clan and I couldn't protect them. It almost seemed like I couldn't do anything recently,if you wanted to really keep track of the dates I would say when Selene showed up,but I don't want to focus on that so I try to blame it on something else instead–like Dominic. But even if I did that,I didn't have evidence to back me up. I sigh loudly The onl
*Noelle's POV* I stretched my body and looked at the curtain In a fierce battle with the sun to protect me from light. The curtains were thick and black and pulled to conceal any sunlight,the only indication that it was morning was that the floors were small. I don't know why Ares would want to have a dark room when he could have the view from the garden instead but it's not in my place to complain. Besides,I have better things to think about,like the fact that I was in Ares’ bed,basking in his sheets,his pillow and oh,his loud scent all around me. The only thing that could have stopped this is if we actually slept together,but like the workaholic he is,he insisted on doing work in his office and coming to bed later. And although I tried to stay up and wait,I ended up falling asleep. But that won't happen again. I yawned and rolled over to greet him good morning only to find the other end of the bed empty. My shoulders dropped and my mother's horrid face filled up in m
*Yolanda's POV* Noelle is using own look again. If we want to sell this pitiful story,We must,by all means, secure the press’ attention and pity. Noelle's discovery of the bodies was not a coincidence,if the gods have blessed us,It's within our duty to ensure that we make the most out of it. “This is your chance,”I began gingerly,creasing a shade of baby pink lipstick over Noelle's lips.“Remember as I told you?” “Yeah,yeah.”she said softly,her eyes staring at herself in the mirror. “Throw him under the bus,gain the public's sympathy, if he was with her last night, he will have no choice but to run to me for an alibi.” “Exactly.”I smirked. She drew in a heavy breath and lowered her eyes. I lift her chin to face up. “And chin up.”I ordered. She pushes my hand from under her chin. “Then what?” My eyebrow raises at her. “What do you mean then what?” “What will be my request for the alibi?” Money,my brain says,but I know that I won't hear the end of it if I say it out lou
(*Dominic's POV*"She arrived at one a.m. last night," Greta whispered at the other end of the line.My heart sank. Whatever I was feeling wasn’t good. Why did she stay out that late?"One a.m.?" I echoed, tension creeping into my voice. "Do you know where they had this date?""No.""What they talked about?""No."Ares must have heard about the journalists last night, right? He has connections—he’s not the kind of man who does things legally. They had to have a solid alibi to counter the time frame of the murders, and if their alibis were each other, it would be a great scandal. They should’ve rushed home... right?My mind spiraled. What if they were having sex? Oh, fuck—what if they were rekindling their old flame? If they were fucking, I swear to God, I will destroy them both."And she left by eight," Greta continued, either not noticing my silence or choosing to ignore it. She wasn’t exactly the most concerned partner, nor did she seem inclined to be loyal."Those are just times,"