"Okay," I said. "Right, we focus on the future.""Exactly," my mother agreed.Suddenly, the image on the television screen changed. I looked up, shocked, as I recognized Alexander. His photo was being shown on the screen."What is this?" I said in surprise. Both of my parents turned to face the scre
Ella POV"I had no idea you were going to be so forward, Alexander," I said.Alexander smirked. "Did you think I was going to play games?" he asked with obvious amusement. "I'm afraid that's against my nature.""I have a feeling there's much I have to learn about your nature if we're going to move f
Ella POV"Mr. Black, I'm sure you can understand why I'm hesitant about this," my father said firmly.Alexander sat across from my father’s desk, calm and composed, while I stood awkwardly beside my father. The tension in the room was making me too anxious to sit down.My father, who typically gave
There was a quiet intensity in his words, as if he was making a promise more to himself than to my father. The room seemed to still, waiting for my father’s response."How long have you felt this way about Ella?" my father asked, his voice probing.Alexander looked away thoughtfully before respondin
Ella POV"Yes."Alexander’s smile deepened, and I could tell by the gleam in his eyes that he found my response amusing. No doubt, he would tease me about this later, but I didn’t mind. It was going to be easy for us to appear to the public as a real couple, especially since we genuinely enjoyed eac
Alexander POVI stepped into the hallway, leaving the door open behind me, waiting for Ella to follow. She hesitated for a moment, giving me a strange, quizzical look.I chose not to ask about it. We were in her pack’s territory, in her father’s house—there was no room for mistakes now. Our performa
“You don’t need to worry about that,” I replied, forcing the words out with a firmness I didn’t fully feel. “It’s never going to happen because there’s no such thing as love.”A tense silence fell between us. I knew August was speaking from a place of concern, reminding me to keep my guard up and no
Ella POVThere were easily two dozen in the massive bouquet. When he reached us, he held them out to me.I took the flowers, feeling a surge of surprise. “These are beautiful,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.“Your favorite flowers, according to my sources,” he said, winking.“Sources?” I a
A young, bubbly woman greeted us with an enthusiastic smile. “Hello, Alpha Black. Hello, soon-to-be Mrs. Black,” she said with a giggle. “We’re so pleased to have you here today. We’ve arranged a private tasting as requested, with some snacks available as well.”“Perfect,” Alexander replied with a p
Ella POVI slipped into a flattering dress and shawl, carefully styled my hair, and applied my makeup with a steady hand, though my thoughts were anything but calm with my dream still lingering.By the time I made it downstairs, Alexander was already there, standing near the front door. He was deep
Ella POV“You did the right thing by calling me,” Alexander said, his voice steady, reassuring. “I’ll look into the number. We’ve already got heavy security for the wedding, so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. This doesn’t really qualify as a threat—more of a warning.”“It’s just... it
As Alexander’s voice grew more tense, my unease deepened. “A meeting?” I repeated, the faint background chatter growing louder in my mind. I knew that second voice, but I couldn’t place it. Something about it made me uneasy.“Yes,” he said firmly, a trace of irritation slipping through his usually c
Ella POVI answered the phone as I walked through the upper levels of the shopping center. Alexander's warm voice greeted me, and my mind drifted for a moment to the first day we officially met. It had been in his office building, on the day this very shopping center opened.Back then, Alexander had
Ella POV“It’s a beautiful gown,” Antonio Kingsman said, scrolling through the pictures on my phone. “But is it stunning enough for a bride being married at a castle?”“What do you mean?” I asked, a flicker of defensiveness creeping into my tone. “Are you saying the dress isn’t glamorous enough?”“I
Alexander POVWedding planning was far more complicated than I’d ever imagined. How anyone managed to do this on their own was beyond me.Ella had mentioned, after I asked, that David had been no help at all with planning her first wedding. I wasn’t surprised to hear it, but I was annoyed nonetheles
The Briar Rose Pack was well-respected and prominent, and there was no reason for the Alpha King to disapprove of Damian’s interest in Elizabeth. But politics had a way of complicating even the simplest matters of the heart, and Elizabeth’s world was nothing if not political.Love, unfortunately, wa
Ella POV“The castle,” Elizabeth said for at least the third time in the last five minutes, her voice full of awe. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to get to visit.”“I can’t believe you haven’t already,” I admitted, glancing at her with a smirk. Elizabeth, the only daughter of the Alpha King, ha