It had been a situation I couldn’t easily escape, nothing more. My mother knew that, and so did Alexander, so Diana’s remark didn’t sting as she probably intended. Still, Alexander’s jaw tightened slightly as he turned back to me, and I gave him a reassuring smile. This was one battle I wasn’t abo
Ella POV Our goodbyes with Diana were polite, but the relief on my mother’s face was palpable the moment the car pulled away from the curb. Her smile faded, replaced by a serious expression that made my stomach twist uneasily. Just yesterday, she had seemed so fond of Alexander, and now it felt
“He certainly would,” I agreed. A text notification chimed on my phone, and Alexander’s name lit up the screen. I opened the message immediately. Alexander: She had fun. Thank you. Me: You’re welcome. Alexander: Do you really love the dress you chose today? Me: It’s very nice. Alexander:
Ella POV I didn’t know how long I cried as my mother rubbed my back and whispered comforting words, but it must have been a while. By the time I managed to pull myself together, we were already home. My emotions still felt raw, but I excused myself and went upstairs to my room. Sadness gave way
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
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
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
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
“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