Julian POV "So, are you following up on the plan?" Henri asked, crossing his arms over his chest.With a sigh, I straightened my tie while glancing at my reflection in the mirror. “Yes, Henri. I've got it covered, as discussed."“Excuse my caution, but I do want this plan to proceed smoothly,” he retorted with a hint of sarcasm.I ignored him, turning around to face him finally. “Well? How do I look?” He scrutinized me with a blank stare, before walking up towards me to fix my hair. “I always have a strand of hair falling over my face,” attempting to fix my hair.“They’ll just have to think that you switched up your hair,” I swatted his hands away.“Remember, go straight to my office. It’s right down the hall of the departmental block, the last door on the right. After about an hour, you’ll proceed and break the news to the department head. He should be in the office by then. His office is one floor directly above mine. Act natural and ensure he doesn't suspect that you're not me, “
Karyna POV Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to hear those words from Professor Henri.“He died in a fatal accident last night,” They rang in my head like a siren.Gasping for breath, I fled the office and the campus, not stopping until I reached the nearby park just beyond the university. As I sank onto a bench, my emotions overwhelmed me.Julian is gone?Professor Henri insisted it was a car accident, but the reality felt surreal. I had seen Julian just yesterday, and now he's gone?Oddly enough, Sophia had been going on about a car accident today...I swiftly pulled out my phone, and opened X, and the first thing that caught my eye was news of a car accident on the outskirts of East Village. After scrolling for minutes without finding detailed information on the accident, I opted for Google. WCBS CBS 2 has already caught on the news. New York Daily News, Times Out New York, and Newspapers have written articles on it, to my advantage. It was BREAKING NEWS for some
Julian’s POV I was shocked. There she stood by Henri's Honda City Hybrid, looking miserable and broken. Tears smudged her mascara, causing dark blotches on her cheeks. Her lips were dry and chapped, her baby blue eyes bloodshot, her nose runny, and her face red and puffy.She was a total mess.Yet, in the midst of all the chaos and imperfections, she still looked beautiful. I quickly pushed the thought from my mind. It was silly to entertain such naughty thoughts when she was clearly in distress.A twinge of guilt pierced me, recognizing that I played a part in her suffering. However, there seemed to be nothing I could do to change the reality.“What are you doing here?” I asked, coolly, trying to keep my demeanor like Henri as much as possible, with little remorse shining in my eyes.Instead of responding, her baby blue eyes hardened, and she unexpectedly moved closer, attempting to kiss me.I promptly pushed her away, staring at her incredulously. What on earth was she thinking?
Karyna’s POV My head ached badly as I woke up, feeling as miserable as ever. I looked down at my bunched dress, then around at my apartment floor filled with empty bottles and cans of alcohol.I groaned and stood up, heading straight for the shower to relieve me of my stench and vitalize me a little bit.When I got out, I dried my hair and realized that the shower did nothing for this burning pain in my head. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked like a hot mess.My hair was frizzy, my eyes were red, swollen and bloodshot, my complexion was pale and I just looked tired overall.“Why am I doing this to myself?” I muttered, rubbing at my eyes. Reaching for the medicine cabinet, I grabbed a capsule of Tylenol and popped it in my mouth, hoping that it would soothe the ache.I put on a Hello Kitty sweatshirt and sweatpants combo to lighten my mood, but I still felt miserable. With my Nike sneakers and my AirPods in, I was good to go.I needed some iced coffee in my system. And
Julian’s POV I didn't go back to the hotel that night. I felt convinced that the sexy brunette would be by the door expecting my return, and that kept me away from Henri’s apartment for a week. Days without my laptop have been refreshing. Henri suggested I shouldn't go to the pack estate in Chappaqua because he also wouldn't have if the scenario had been real, and I was actually dead. “I wouldn't know how to face them because the pack would have wanted me to replace you as the Alpha, and I can't go back to that life.” So, these few days, I've been spending time with Onyx, and Henri, forcing them to train with me. Henri wouldn't shift, but Onyx and I shift every night.At that moment, I was on my way back to the hotel, determined to go get my laptop from Henri's lodge. There was no point waiting anymore. By now, she should have gotten a new man to satisfy her sexual urges. I also had a few of my things I would like to take as well, so I really couldn't keep on procrastinating b
Karyna’s POV “Fine. I’ll accept you as one person. But please stop playing all these tricks on me,” I agreed, and a sly grin appeared on his face as he shifted, moving closer to me.Reality struck when I realized our position, in a bedroom. On a bed, I presumed. And alone at that. Suddenly, he snuck up behind me and pulled me flush to his chest.“Oh,” I let out a shaky moan as his head rested on my shoulder, lightly planting kisses against my neck. Julian’s hand snaked down my waist and another on my shoulder as he ground against me. “You feel amazing,” he whispered in the shell of my ear and it felt like it was only the two of us left in this world. Fireworks exploded in my stomach and it took everything in me not to lose consciousness. Each touch was like bombs exploding in my lower stomach and the way he rocked against me so gently, so passionately.“Please…” I whispered. I didn't even want to hold in my sexual urge right now. “Please, what?” He growled lowly, biting my ear l
Henri’s POV I looked into the bathroom mirror, inspecting my injuries. It had healed over the past week, with just a litter of bruises and scratches around my face and body, and I felt relieved.I didn’t like being cooped up in this tiny motel, neither did I like being this idle for so long, if I could help it.I hoped that Julian made sure that there were no loose ends untied in our plan, or else, it could lead to another thing.Adjusting my glasses properly on my face, I stepped out of the bathroom, and into the small adjoining bedroom.Because of my injuries and the time it took to heal, my body became weaker than normal, causing me to want to rest all the time.So, it was no surprise that as soon as I set my eyes on the bed, I laid down on it, trying to relax.“Why is Julian taking so long? His prolonged absence is making me uneasy,” I muttered to myself, a growing sense of irritation settling in.Why did my intuition insist that something was amiss?A few minutes later, I heard
Karyna’s POV “What’s your name? I don’t think I’ve ever gotten it,” My eyebrows shot up in surprise and my mouth widened quite a bit. All these while, I thought Professor Henri would at least know my name, since I was his student and all, but then again, we aren’t that close to begin with.It made me wonder…did Julian even know my name? I don’t think so. He has never addressed me with it.I realized that I had insisted on being anonymous when we met in the club and hooked up. Given the tragic situation after, it was excusable.“I’m Karyna,” I told him. “Not the usual Karina, the I is replaced with a Y,” I explained properly.“Karyna…” he drawled lowly, causing me to shiver. Just him saying my name turned me on more than I would have ever imagined. He had such a deep, nice voice. “Such a peculiar name. It’s not something I would forget easily,”“Not so, I was named after a customer care representative my mother spoke to online,” I told him, unsure of why I was even divulging this inf
Julian’s POV “Don’t kill him yet. I want to return all the ten slaps he gave me.” Karyna’s words rang in my ears and I felt a dark cloud of rage enveloped me. I shot forward but she grasped my hand, restraining me as I fumed. “Release my hand,” I ordered her, breathing heavily. Karyna shook her head stubbornly. “No. You promised me not to kill him if Henri didn't.” She whispered, her hand squeezing my clenched fist. I wasn't aware he hit her 10 times before I made that oath. No one can stop Venar from dying today. “I can't keep this promise, Karyna. Only his death can dispel the anger rooted in my chest.” I growled, my whole body convulsing with fury. I released my Alpha aura, thinking the overwhelming energy would push her away but she remained steadfast, unwilling to leave my side. Any sensible werewolf would have kept their distance from a raging Alpha, knowing that the raw power could easily crush them, and they would never be able to shift again. But of course, my Kary
Henri’s POV I had made a vow to kill Venar with my own hands, just like I did his father, Venom. Why? Because both of them are nuisances. That son of a gun kidnapped my Karyna and nearly slapped her to death. “Fucking bastard!” I growled, my hands clenched tightly on the steering wheel as I trailed after Venar. I wanted to go after him that morning, but Karyna was badly injured, and I feared we might lose the surviving baby in her womb, so I let him escape. I placed the highest fucking bounty on his head, but none of the hitmen found find him. I had a feeling he had been lurking in the shadows like a rat scuttling away from the light, and I was right. “You think you can hide forever, don’t you?" I muttered under my breath, a venomous smirk lifting my face. “I’ll make you regret every choice you’ve made. You’ll wish you never crossed me, just like your father did. When I finally catch up with him, I will make sure you taste what it felt like to be slapped to death.” Th
Karyna’s POV The short skirt I wore did nothing to conceal the wetness trickling down my thighs. I could even catch a whiff of my own arousal in the air, and I was sure Julian and Henri could sense it too. “Jules, please,” I let out a desperate plea when he wouldn’t slip his fingers inside me. Julian had been tormenting me; using his middle finger to rub my clit in circles, lightly pressing kisses against my neck. He growled lowly, that deep sound sending explosive waves of arousal down my spine. “What are you begging me for, my love?” Julian whispered in the shell of my ear, and it suddenly felt like we were the only ones in the car. The sensation in my lower stomach was too consuming. I could feel my pussy throbbing painfully as my heart pounded under my chest. The intensity of the moment was almost too much to bear, so I just looked into his green eyes, hoping he’d understand just how much I craved him at that moment. “Alpha. I don’t think your fingers can d
Karyna’s POVAs we made our way to Henri’s car, a whirlwind of emotions washed over me. I couldn't bring myself to accept that my abusive father was truly gone. I was still in shock. I could feel the overwhelming amount of fear I had for Thomas Vegas dissipating with each assurance that he was indeed dead. He was killed by Julian. I was caught between feeling relieved that he could no longer harm me, or force me to do his vile wishes and the nagging question of whether I should feel sorrowful for his death.I’d known that cruel man all my life, and I’d always thought he was invincible, so it was crazy to believe that he was dead, just like that. He had been wealthy and influential during his life, but now he wouldn’t have a final resting place because Julien had killed him to avenge me, and his body would remain lost forever.When we got in front of the car, Julian pulled the back seat door for me, and I slid in. I could feel the sizzling heat coming from his body as he sat beside
Julian’s POV I was anticipating kissing Karyna until she was lost for words again when an iPhone ringing echoed in my ears. “Who's fucking phone is that? Fuck, it’s mine.” I groaned inwardly and went to pick it up, licking my lips to savor the pancake I had just eaten. When I saw that it was Leah who was calling me, my suppressed anger returned. I didn't want this woman calling me. But I was still using the same phone I was using when I was wearing the skin mask that was similar to Onyx’s face. Jeremy deserves his phone and number. I made a mental note to sort that out today before turning to Henri and Karyna. “It’s Leah,” I revealed, bitterness coating my voice like poison. I felt Karyna’s worry surge, even without her saying a word. She looked at me with those baby-blue eyes, her gaze filled with concern and thoughts of another threat. Another threat from my family. I clenched my jaw at that. I contemplated whether I should step outside to answer her. Leah knew I acce
Karyna’s POV I'd been eavesdropping on Julian and Henri's conversation after Henri entered. I heard Henri's laughter and Julian's question of what was funny. Henri's response of “everything” was followed by Julian's shocking revelation that made me blink in disbelief. Besides the fox he killed, he had also attempted to harm one of them. Did he see killing as a normal thing? “I was simply bullying her back for you,” Julian stated, walking over to retrieve the bowl of pancakes in my hand. My eyes widened in astonishment. I couldn't fathom his nonchalant attitude towards serious actions like this. I paused my lips, my heart sinking as I gazed back and forth between the Alphas I had fallen hopeless for. I didn't want to think that I had judged them wrongly or I had underestimated their animalistic nature. “I understand where you're coming from, Julian. But you can't go around ending lives or torturing animals just to defend me from bullies or make me accessories,” “I alre
Henri’s POV As I dashed after Karyna, my heart pounded with worry. How could she be so reckless, especially after yesterday's events? The arsonist might still be out there, and here she was, venturing off alone because she was pissed about the death of a fox. Her blind courage angers me and it fills me with worry. Why couldn't she be more concerned about her safety? I finally caught up to her just before she reached the guards who were stationed in front of the house. Without hesitation, I grasped her arm firmly and stopped her in her tracks. “Karyna, stop!” I urged, my voice thick with concern and frustration. “This is just our way of life. It's normal for werewolves to hunt and kill other animals. Hunting and killing are what we do. There's no need to get upset,” I deadpanned. Karyna turned to shoot me an angry glare, her baby-blue eyes revealing bitterness and confusion. “Normal? Are you freaking serious right now?” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “Just because
Julian’s POV The snow poured heavily on me, stinging like a thousand icy needles, yet I refused to halt my sprint. What was supposed to be a simple 15-minute early morning run turned into a relentless sprint fueled by my escalating anger. It wasn't just Henri's continuous provocation to abandon the Pack that fueled my fury. It was the unsettling realization that his reasons were valid, and I might be forced to confront a truth I wasn't ready to face. I was certain he'd only come back to safeguard Karyna and our child. Yet, deep down, I clung to a foolish wish that his return would reignite the memories of the beautiful life we once shared here and he would want to protect the pack, but as I said, it was a foolish wish. It hurt like crazy to admit that he didn't see this Pack estate as home but as a refuge camp, where he could hide from his enemies, and leave at any slight inconvenience. “Do you really think they want me back as their Alpha? All they want is a pack to b
Karyna’s POV In my dreams, Julian and Henri were having a heated argument. Julian was clearly upset, warning Henri never to mention abandoning the Pack, but Henri insisted it was necessary for our survival. I thought it was all just a dream until a loud door slam woke me up, and there was Julian storming off in frustration. “Henri,” I called out, my voice filled with surprise. I saw the worry etched on his face as he locked eyes with me, and I felt a pang in my heart. Did he insist on abandoning the pack because he was triggered by my mention of needing a break from the chaos surrounding us? Henri sighed softly and walked closer, he climbed on the bed and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Morning, sweetheart,” he greeted, his voice above a whisper. Though his tone seemed light, the somber look in his green eyes and the shadow of regret on his face showed he was sad about the argument he just had with Julian. “Did you really believe we will be safe if we abandon the Pack?” I