I tried to turn, desperate to run in the opposite direction, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. The vertigo hit me like a wave, making it impossible to stay upright.With each step I attempted, nausea surged. The world tilted, and I felt my strength slipping away.I staggered, holding myself up against
Ella POVThe elevator doors slid open, and David scooped me up in one swift motion. I struggled, pushing against him with all my strength, but it did nothing to break his grip. His hold was unyielding as he stepped out into the hallway.Then he started running. The jarring motion of his sprint sent
I turned my head away, tears falling down my cheeks.“I wonder what’s more valuable,” David mused. “I could blackmail you and get the wealth your pack has to offer.” He moved to the foot of the bed and grabbed my ankle, pulling me towards him. “Or, I could make you a movie star and make a fortune se
The sound of Alexander’s voice spurred David into action, but he wasn’t fast enough. With two loud bangs, the door burst open. Alexander strode in, a look of anger on his face. His eyes fixed on me immediately and i saw the expression freeze as he took in the scene.David was standing between me and
Ella POVA chill ran through me, and goosebumps rose along my arms. There was so much intensity in Alexander's words that I didn’t doubt for a second he meant them.I watched as David paused, the gravity of the situation sinking in. But after a moment, he shook off his hesitation and lunged forward,
Ella POVAlexander quietly led me into his office building, away from the crowds on the busy streets. I was wearing my skirt and Alexander’s suit coat, since my own shirt had been destroyed. Alexander had made a few phone calls, then helped me dress and ushered me out of the hotel as quickly and cal
“I should be the one to talk to him,” I protested, though my voice came out weak and shaky.“It’s all right,” he reassured me. “I’ll explain everything and let him know you’re safe.”I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to argue further. Alexander was right—if my father heard me sounding
Ella POVThe fog over my mind was distracting, but even with it, one thought kept replaying in my head: I had never seen Alexander like that. He was always so calm, so in control—teasing, sure, laid-back occasionally—but never like that.It wasn’t just anger that I saw. No, the word didn't even feel
“Does that mean he’s announced David’s arrest, too?” I asked.“Yes,” Alexander said, irritation flashing across his face. It was obvious—once again, the king had made a major decision without giving us a heads-up.I turned to Diana, suspicion creeping into my expression. She had been advising the ki
Ella POVSomething about Diana was off.Every time I had interacted with her before, she had maintained a pretense of politeness, a faint affection, as if she at least wanted me to believe she liked me—that she had my best interests at heart.But now, as she looked at me, that facade was gone. She w
“Alexander,” Ella interrupted, her voice suddenly sharp, “You know him.”I froze, her grip on my arm anchoring me in place. The room seemed to close in as my mind raced.“Yes,” I said quietly, meeting her gaze. “I know him.”Ella POVMy mind was spinning, almost dizzy with the overwhelming thoughts.
Alexander POVThe office door burst open, and Ella rushed in, barreling straight into me and collapsing into my arms. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, still seated in my chair.“What the hell is going on?” I asked, my voice a mix of concern and confusion.August, who had been sitting across fro
Ella POVElizabeth and I sat across from each other at a small table in our favorite restaurant at the shopping center. An untouched appetizer sat between us, the ice in our drinks melting slowly.I didn’t want to push her. Whatever she had to tell me, she was clearly struggling with. But I also nee
She lowered her gaze. "I just don’t want my friend to get hurt," she admitted. "I'm trying to figure out who's targeting Ella so I can stop them."Dr. McIntyre scoffed. "By killing them?"Elizabeth met her eyes without flinching."If that's what it takes."There was a long silence as the two women s
Third Person POVElizabeth descended into the basement of her house, a heavy weight pressing against her chest. She had no idea what was going on with her father or why he was acting as he was, but she knew it was dangerous.He didn’t seem to understand how serious the situation was. Someone was sch
Eventually, out of desperation, she had called Diana. Her aunt had agreed to pay for housing on one condition: that she return to the South.Now, here she was, in the capital, feeling like a ghost in a place that no longer belonged to her. Every day, she lived in fear of running into Alexander.And
Ella POV“We could ask Sabrina.”"I can't," Alexander said, his voice barely audible."Okay," I replied easily.He was silent for a long moment before loosening his grip just enough to look at my face. "Okay?""Of course," I said. "I'm not going to pressure you to do something that's painful for you