Alexander looked momentarily surprised by the question but recovered quickly. “No, I haven’t put much thought into it yet,” he admitted. “As I’ve said before, I want your input. I think it would be best if we chose your dress first, and then I can find a suit to complement it.” “I suppose that mak
Ella POV I stepped out of the car, and the expression on my mother’s face hardened instantly. She looked angry—furious, even—and I couldn’t imagine what I’d done to deserve it. My mind raced as I walked toward her, trying to figure out the reason for her mood. Then it struck me. My stomach dropp
"It does seem like you’ve been busy every minute of the day," she said, a hint of sadness in her tone. "We’ve hardly had a chance to talk." "Oh, that reminds me," I said, seizing the moment. "As long as we have a chance now, I wanted to ask you about dress shopping." "Oh?" she said, raising an e
Ella POV Alexander continued lifting weights, but every time I glanced his way, I found him looking at me. I couldn’t exactly complain, considering I was staring at him just as much. Still, it made me uneasy. We were supposed to be keeping our distance, not giving in to our mutual attraction. It
"Yes," I said, dipping my fingers into the warm water. "I’m also doing some occupational therapy, and I’m hoping the combination will help me recover my wolf more quickly." Her eyes softened with genuine curiosity. "Do you feel it’s making a difference? Have you noticed anything yet?" I hesitate
Ella POV Alexander knew exactly what he was doing to me—the closeness of his body, the heat radiating from his workout, and the effortless way he carried himself. There was no way my reaction was unexpected, and I refused to let him see just how much he was affecting me. Without overthinking, I
Whether or not he believed me, I wouldn’t be able to keep it to myself. The anxiety I felt at the prospect of spending time with Diana wasn’t entirely tied to her attitude toward Alexander—or at least, that was all I could be certain of. There was no other reason I should feel uneasy around her… was
Ella POV The castle was even more incredible than I had imagined. Alexander and I arrived early Saturday morning, just as planned. Though it was only a twenty-minute drive from his office in the capital, it felt like we had been transported to another world. Surrounded by dense forest and perfec
Alexander POVI checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time. It was almost noon, and I had hoped to meet Sabrina and Lexie an hour ago. The plan had been simple: a shopping trip to get everything they would need for their big move to the Rowandwood pack.Lexie was excited about starting s
She trembled—barely noticeable, but I could feel it, see the way her body stiffened. Diana wasn’t one to show fear, but it was there now. Her eyes widened, though she tried to hide it behind a mask of defiance.She opened her mouth to speak, but her words faltered as she seemed to reconsider. Her ha
Ella POVIt took a while for August to calm down enough to leave. He wouldn’t give me any more information than he already had, but it did seem like he felt a little better now that he wasn’t the only one aware of the gravity of the situation.I was still standing in the doorway where I had spoken t
“I can’t,” he said weakly, his voice choked by tears.“Why?” I asked, frustrated.He looked away from me and I realized that I already knew the answer to that question. “Alexander is keeping something from me,” I said softly.He nodded, but couldn’t seem to meet my eyes.I could only imagine how har
Ella POVAugust paced across the living room, his brows drawn together in frustration. The tension in the room was thick.He and Alexander had a huge fight just a short while ago. I wasn’t in the room when it happened, but I could hear them shouting. I couldn’t make out any of the words, but it was
“I–” Sabrina looked at Lexie and sighed softly. “I’m very grateful. We’d be happy to stay with you until we’re able to find a safe place of our own.”My father smiled brightly. “Wonderful. We’ll be very happy to have you.”Overwhelmed with gratitude, I reached for his hand. “Dad…thank you. I didn’t
Ella POVThe warm glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers cast a golden hue over the elegantly set tables.I sat beside Alexander, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of my wine glass as I watched Lexie beam with pure delight. The little girl twirled in her chair, the soft pink dress Alexander h
Alexander’s gaze softened as he considered the offer. “That… might actually be the best solution.” He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re thinking about her like this.”I squeezed his hand. “She’s important to you. That makes her imp
Ella POVThe bustling noise of the shopping center’s food court was drown out by the sound of Lexie’s excited voice. Her tray of food was mostly ignored in favor of conversation.Her bright blue eyes were filled with excitement as she rattled off every thought that came to her mind.“And then the pr