When I closed my eyes, all I could see was Alexander’s text: three simple words that changed everything. This is it. The medication I had been taking for years—believing it would help me recover my wolf—was the very thing that had been poisoning me, silencing her all along. People I trusted, tho
"Don’t thank me yet," Alexander said, a teasing edge softening the seriousness in his voice. "Like you said, you’re going to owe me for this one." "Whatever you want," I replied, my voice steadier. "It's worth it to keep my father safe." "We’ll see if you still feel that way when I decide what I
My father laughed when I asked him to make a doctor’s appointment. I wasn’t quite prepared for that reaction, but his expression softened when he noticed the worry in my eyes. “If it means that much to you, Ella, then I’ll do it,” he said gently. “But I promise you, I’m perfectly healthy. There’s
We arrived at the concert later than I had expected, but I had never experienced VIP access before and wasn’t quite sure what to anticipate. Instead of waiting in the long line that snaked around the building, we entered through a side door. Once inside, we ascended a set of stairs that led us to a
At one point, I noticed people in the crowd shouting and waving their arms up at us. I waved back, which drew cheers from them. It was the positive reaction we had wanted, so this date was a success. Alexander didn’t join in, despite my attempts to coax him into dancing, but he watched me with a l
Alexander held me close against his side as we fought our way through the crowd. Neither of us spoke a single word to the reporters, and to shield my reaction from the relentless camera flashes, he pulled his jacket around me, effectively hiding my face. We finally reached his car, and the driver
Ella POV The days between discovering David’s engagement and attending his event stretched out painfully slowly, a strange stillness settling over everything. My parents watched me closely, waiting for signs of heartbreak or distress. They expected me to be hurt, maybe even devastated, by the ne
Ella POV I sat across from Alexander in the car, watching him as he focused intently on his phone. He was likely catching up on emails or checking in on one of his businesses—he rarely wasted a moment, even while traveling. Dressed in a perfectly tailored three-piece suit with gleaming gold cuff
“Michael’s far more mature than you are,” Alexander shot back. “As if he had a choice,” Fiona quipped. “What does that mean?” I asked, curiosity piqued. “With a mother like Diana, it’s not like he had the luxury of a normal childhood,” Fiona said casually, her tone light but her words weighted.
Ella POV “How did Fiona trick you into coming out with her tonight?” Alexander asked, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips as we settled into a dimly lit booth at the warm cocktail bar up the street. Fiona kicked him under the table. Alexander winced and hissed in pain. I laughed, unable to help m
“Fiona!” I called out. She turned, her emerald-green dress shimmering under the chandelier light. The long bell sleeves and silver jewelry made her look effortlessly elegant. She smiled warmly as she approached us, a tall, broad-shouldered man with light brown hair at her side. “I didn’t expect to
Ella POV The story unfolding on the stage below was utterly entrancing. I couldn’t tear my eyes away as the scene shifted to a beautiful young woman being pursued by her raving mother. The villain’s aria was both mesmerizing and terrifying, her powerful voice weaving between anguish and fury as t
Ella POV The rest of the week was a whirlwind. News outlets hounded Alexander for comments about the king's rumored retirement, speculating wildly about his next move. Meanwhile, the hunt for Dr. McIntyre weighed heavily on my mind, especially since there seemed to be no progress. Alexander’s late
I laughed softly at my father’s teasing. “I can work hard too, you know. I just prefer balance.” “As you should,” he replied with a small smile. August smiled slightly as well, then stood and stepped away from the desk. “I’m going to give Alexander a call. He wanted an update as soon as possible.”
Ella POV The next evening, I found myself back in my home pack’s territory, sitting in my father’s office. It felt strange being here after so long, especially given the change in circumstances, but there was something comforting about it. Alexander had been unable to attend the meeting due to an
Ella POV “You’re back,” Alexander said as I walked into the apartment, his voice warm but tinged with curiosity. “Yes, sorry I’m late for lunch,” I replied, setting my bag down. “My coffee outing ran long. I ran into Fiona at the café, and we got to talking.” “That’s good,” Alexander said, watchi
A small, irrational part of me wanted to turn around and walk out, but that would be ridiculous. Instead, I stepped up to the counter and focused on placing my order: the usual drinks for James and me. I’d hoped Fiona wouldn’t notice me. No such luck. “Ella!” she called out, her voice bright with