LilaThe burn in my throat was sharp yet oddly soothing, chasing away the storm of emotions threatening to pull me under. I set the glass down with a shaky sigh, trying to gather the scattered pieces of my resolve. No. I wasn’t going to let my heartbreak win tonight.“You need to get drunk, forget everything, and actually live for once,” Sophia declared, pouring me another drink, her tone as unapologetic as her glossy red lipstick.Elena smirked, leaning in closer, her voice dripping with mischief. “Or better yet, the fastest way to forget a man? Get under another one. Preferably one with abs carved by the gods and a tongue that knows its way around,” she added, sliding the vodka bottle toward me with a wink.I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that bubbled up, though tears threatened to follow. My father’s harsh words echoed in my mind—words that had crushed me more than I’d ever admit.“You’re just an omega, a low ranked she-wolf, Lila. And I was cursed with having a weakling so just be
LilaThis morning felt… different. There was a smile tugging at my lips, one I couldn’t suppress. My body ached in the best way, a soreness that reminded me of last night—a night unlike any I’d ever known.Something had shifted in me. There was power coursing through my veins, raw and untamed, as if I were no longer bound to the labels they’d placed on me. Submissive omega? My father’s obedient little girl? Not anymore. Last night, I’d taken charge. I wasn’t the one bowing down; I was the one worshipped.The way he touched me, revered me... Oh, Goddess. Heat pooled in my core just at the memory. If only I’d had more cash on me—he deserved far more than the hundred dollars I’d left him."Lila, come here!"My father’s furious voice ripped through my pleasant reverie, snapping me back to reality. The smile on my face faltered, fading as I realized I was already in the hall, my feet carrying me toward the stairs.I froze, my breath catching as his gaze locked onto mine, brimming with anger
Lila“What are you doing here?” I hissed, my voice sharp with fury, though I could feel the tremble beneath it.Sheldon pushed himself up from my bed with a lazy, predatory smirk. “Came to see my little omega humbled, finally realizing she can’t escape me or this engagement.”“I already have,” I shot back, my tone biting as I folded my arms across my chest. “You forfeited any claim the moment you cheated on me.”My words were steel, but inside, my heart thudded unevenly. I couldn’t afford to let him see the cracks—the pain he’d caused me would only fuel his sick power play.Sheldon chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. His eyes raked over me with a disgusting sense of ownership.“You’re so naive,” he sneered, stepping closer. His Alpha aura pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. “You think you can break the engagement? You think you have that kind of power?”I stayed silent, my fists clenching at my sides as he loomed over me.“Didn’t your father teach you anything?” His voice dri
ElliotSunlight streamed through the windows, piercing my eyelids and dragging me out of sleep. Groaning, I rubbed my face and turned toward the other side of the bed. My lips curved into a lazy smirk, expecting to find her there, tangled in the sheets, as breathtaking in the morning light as she had been last night.But the bed was empty.My heart kicked up its pace. I sat up, scanning the room. The faint scent of her still lingered in the air—a mix of jasmine and plum that had driven my wolf wild. But she was gone.“Damn it,” I muttered, raking a hand through my hair. I hadn’t even learned her name.It wasn’t like me to stay after a night like that. I was the one who disappeared before dawn, leaving no room for attachments or awkward conversations. But last night had been...different. I’d stayed, letting my guard down for the first time in years. And she’d vanished.My wolf paced restlessly in the back of my mind, his frustration mirroring mine. Where is she?Then I saw it. A crisp h
LilaA sharp sting in the back of my hand pulled me from the haze of unconsciousness. My eyelids fluttered, heavy and sluggish, as I blinked against the sterile light of the hospital room. An IV drip was attached to the back of my hand, and the faint beeping of machines filled the silence.“She’s awake—call the doctor,” a nurse’s voice cut through the fog.I turned my head slightly, finding a kind-eyed nurse rushing to my side. She was middle-aged, with a warm smile that somehow managed to put me at ease, even amidst the confusion clawing at my chest.“Are you feeling okay, sweetie?” She asked, gently taking my blood pressure.I nodded weakly, my throat too dry to form words. She handed me a glass of water, her gaze softening with pity.“You need to be extra careful now,” She said, her tone firm but caring. “I know life can get hectic, especially for someone your age, but you have to prioritize your health first. In your condition, it’s critical.”Her words didn’t make sense, but befor
LilaThe doctor discharged me shortly after, and Julian insisted on driving me back to my dorm. Considering my baby’s safety, I hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. The air in the car was thick with silence, awkward and heavy, neither of us quite sure how to fill it.When we reached my dorm, the car screeched to a halt, and Julian got out quickly, moving to help me. I hated the weakness I felt as I leaned on him, my body still protesting from the strain I’d put it through over the past month.“This way,” I muttered, leading him toward the stairs.As soon as we stepped inside, a loud moan echoed from the room next door, followed by a round of laughter. I winced, heat rising to my cheeks.Julian raised a brow, his face clouding with concern. “I don’t think you should be staying in a place like this,” he said firmly, his voice laced with disapproval.“I can’t afford anything better,” I replied with a shrug, pressing my lips together to suppress my embarrassment.Once inside my sma
ElliotI slammed the shot glass onto the bar, the tequila burning my throat but doing little to douse the fire inside me. My wolf prowled beneath my skin, restless, snarling, demanding her presence. The absence of her scent—soft, floral, unforgettable—gnawed at him like an open wound.Lila Emerson.Her name was a curse and a prayer all at once, clawing at the edges of my sanity. She’d become a phantom haunting my every thought, her image seared into my mind no matter how hard I tried to erase it. My wolf howled for her, yet I was determined to resist the pull, to prove he was wrong. She wasn’t worthy of my obsession—of our obsession. She was the daughter of a traitor, a cheater. That was all she would ever be.But my patience was wearing thin. Days of searching, tracking, interrogating, and still, nothing. My Beta’s incompetence was grating, and my wolf’s fury grew with each passing moment she remained hidden.“Alpha,” a honeyed, overly sultry voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts.I
LilaFate must have had a cruel sense of humor. The man I had given my virginity to wasn’t just any stranger—he was the son of our enemy. And as if that wasn’t enough of a cosmic joke, I was carrying his pup.The Moon Goddess had to have been in a foul mood when she wrote my destiny because this? This was beyond twisted.Yet, deep within me, a small, treacherous part yearned for him. His presence had stirred something dormant, something primal. The warmth of his gaze, even laced with arrogance, felt like a tether pulling me back to the night we shared.“You,” he said, his tone dripping with confidence. “I want you, he added, the smirk curling on his lips, making my pulse quicken for all the wrong reasons.“How dare you?” I snapped, my voice sharp as I restrained the growl threatening to spill from my chest.Elliot’s smirk deepened, but before he could reply, his phone buzzed. His brows furrowed in irritation as he pulled it out, answering the call without a second thought.“How could h
LilaI stared at my reflection in the mirror as I removed my earrings, letting them drop onto the vanity with a soft clink. The engagement ring on my finger gleamed mockingly under the dim light. Elliot wanted more. Of course, he did. He wanted us to finally take that step, to bind ourselves together in every way that mattered, but I’d told him to wait.Wait for the wedding to basically fuck me.But the shadow in the mirror sneered at me, as if to say, Why did you say yes, then?Why was I wearing his ring if I wasn’t ready, if I didn't want this? How long could I keep this wall between us, even after the vows were spoken and the deal sealed?Julian’s voice echoed in my head, sharp and sardonic, as if he knew the turmoil swirling inside me. If he found out about today, he’d have no shortage of biting remarks to make. He’d never let me hear the end of it.A few hours ago…A thousand daggers seemed to pierce my chest, their edges laced with wolfsbane, making every breath a battle. The we
Elliot“It’s beautiful,” Lila murmured, her gaze flickering over the soft glow of the candlelight as she sipped her champagne.“Not nearly as beautiful as you,” I said, a playful smirk tugging at my lips as I gestured for the waiter to serve our dinner.My fingers brushed against the mark on my neck—the rose, the sword, and the crescent moon—her mark. It had healed quickly, courtesy of my Alpha blood, as it healed me quicker than the others, leaving behind a bold emblem of our bond. It was more than a mark; it was a promise, a declaration that she was mine and I was hers. The thought alone sent a thrill through me.I’d whisked her away for this candlelit dinner right after our steamy bath together. Temptation had been strong enough to nearly unravel her then and there, but I had plans—plans that demanded patience. Yet, sitting here now, watching her, the nerves gnawed at me. What if she said no? She’d come so far, but that didn’t guarantee she was ready to take the next step.“You see
ElliotThe moment I stepped into the hallway, a low whistle caught my attention. I turned to see Julian lounging in the living room, his laptop perched on his knees as he typed away, looking far too smug for my liking. His demeanor set off warning bells in my head. Julian in a good mood usually meant trouble.“Hello, brother,” he greeted, barely glancing up from his screen.I scowled but didn’t bother responding. Ignoring him completely, I made my way upstairs, toward the room where Lila was waiting. My wolf stirred uneasily, a lingering sense of foreboding thick in the air.When I opened the door and stepped inside, my heart slammed against my rib cage. Lila sat in front of the dressing mirror, brushing out her long hair. The soft lighting highlighted her silhouette, but it was her attire—or lack thereof—that caught my attention and stole my breath.She wore a black sheer nightgown that left little to the imagination. The lace of her bra peeked through the delicate fabric, accentuati
ElliotThe council meeting had ended an hour ago—surprisingly uneventful, far more so than I had anticipated. Every member, even Julian’s uncle, had agreed to my coronation ceremony this weekend without protest. There was not a single voice of dissent, and there were no arguments from anyone, not even my father, regarding the urgency of my ascension due to the increasing threat of those creatures.But I wasn’t fooled. The silence wasn’t born of compliance. I could see it in their eyes—they weren’t afraid of the creatures lurking in the shadows. Their fear stemmed from something else, something unspoken yet palpable.Julian’s absence and the council’s unsettling acquiescence gnawed at my instincts. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, its warning clear: something wasn’t right. Something was coming…“Alpha Elliot.”Rina’s soft voice pulled me from my thoughts.“Is everything alright?” she asked, her tone gentle yet concerned.“Yes. Please, have a seat,” I replied, gesturing to the chair
LilaThe moment I locked my bedroom door, a rush of anticipation washed over me. Settling on my bed, I carefully opened the wooden box. My heart raced in my chest as I uncovered its contents—a tangle of delicate jewelry, a journal, some faded photographs, and a few half-torn letters. My fingers brushed over a necklace I recognized instantly. It was the one my mother used to wear every day. I vividly remembered asking her about it when she stopped wearing it. She’d told me she’d lost it, but something about the way she’d said it had always felt off. Now, holding it in my hands, I wondered if there was more to the story. At the bottom of the box lay the journal. Its cover was simple yet elegant, with a bold gold V embossed at the center. I traced the letter with my fingertips before opening it. The first page revealed her full name, written in her neat, graceful handwriting: Valentina Jasmine Elbert.It struck me immediately—she hadn’t used my father’s surname. This journal must have
LilaThe meeting at the office had gone better than I expected. With the new plans and policies in place, my company was finally heading in the direction I had always envisioned—a place where equality thrived, where the employees felt valued, and where archaic, discriminatory practices were eradicated. The new investment plans were strategically crafted to revitalize my company, ensuring its steady recovery from the losses my father’s mismanagement had inflicted. Each decision was calculated to not only stabilize the business but also position it for long-term growth, restoring the reputation and strength it once held. As I stepped out of my office, Sheila, my ever-efficient secretary, called out to me. “Lila, wait.” She hurried over, holding a thick file in her hands.“These are old records,” she explained, her voice tinged with unease. “I couldn’t make sense of some of them, but I thought you should take a look. They might be important.”I frowned, sensing her discomfort. “Thank y
Lila“I’ll miss you,” Uncle Liam murmured, pulling me into a warm, comforting embrace.“We’ll be back soon,” Elliot replied smoothly, his hand resting protectively on the small of my back before I could respond.Aunt Julia's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she clasped my hands in hers. “Call me, sweetheart. Promise me you will.”“Of course,” I reassured her, my voice soft but steady. She was the last connection I had to my mother’s family, and I knew her presence might be key in uncovering the secrets hidden in my mother’s journal.“I’ll visit his pack during the blood moon,” Elliot’s uncle said, glancing at Aunt Julia with a small smile. “If you’d like, you can join me.”My aunt's expression shifted from surprise to unrestrained joy. “I’d love to,” she said, her voice tinged with delight.“Don’t forget to invite us to the wedding,” Aunt Julia teased, her words laced with playful mischief as her gaze shifted between me and Elliot.My cheeks flushed, heat creeping up my neck, but E
ElliotHer lips on mine set my entire body ablaze. I could feel her surrender, her trust, and her desire—everything I craved to earn from her. The waves lapped around us, cool and steady, but nothing could temper the fire she ignited within me.I gripped her waist, holding her steady as she kissed me deeply, her hands threading through my hair and tugging just enough to drive me mad. She tasted like sweetness and temptation, the perfect mix of innocence and wildness that was uniquely her."Lila," I murmured against her lips, my voice thick with need. "If we keep this up, I won't be able to stop."Her emerald eyes met mine, a glimmer of determination in their depths. "Then don't."My wolf growled in approval, but I hesitated. She was carrying our children. Her safety, her comfort—it came before my desires. Always."Lila," I said, my tone softer now, my forehead pressed against hers. "You're everything to me, and I don't want to hurt you. Not physically, not emotionally."Her hands cupp
LilaHis face glowed beneath the sun's setting light, the hues of amber and crimson casting an almost ethereal glow on his features. As we walked hand in hand along the beach, the sand warm beneath our bare feet, I couldn’t help but trace the sharp line of his jaw with my fingertip.Elliot turned toward me, his expression softening as a dimple appeared on his cheek, and I caught my breath. That single dimple was a betrayal of his otherwise unyielding demeanor—a glimpse of vulnerability that made my heart stumble.“Why don’t you smile more often?” I asked, my voice lighter than I felt. “The dimple really suits you.” My finger lingered over the hollow, as though committing it to memory, before I pressed it gently like a button.His chuckle was low and unrestrained, the sound vibrating through me. “I smile when there’s something worth smiling about,” he said, the warmth in his voice making my pulse quicken.“And what’s the reason now?” I prodded, raising a brow.He leaned in slightly, hi