Scarlett’s POVGoing to the door quickly made my heart race because I was still shocked by what had happened with Alex. With sweat still on my temples, I prayed that I didn't look as bad as I felt. Ryan shouldn't be it, please. Please. But as soon as I opened the door, my brother Ryan was standing there with his eyebrows raised.“What took so long you to open the door?” he questioned me.“I dozed off,” I answered him, acting like sleepy. "What's making you sweat so much?" His voice was already tense with suspicion as he looked at me. He was sitting down, and Sienna crossed her arms. She looked quickly back and forth between me and around the house.I tried to sound relaxed as I stuttered, "I'm just feeling really hot." It was way too easy for them to lie, and I could tell they were telling the truth. Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he looked around the room. “The AC’s on, Scarlett. You shouldn’t be sweating like that.”"I don't know," I said in a low voice as I pulled at my shirt collar. "P
(Scarlett's POV)"Hey, good morning, Scarlett!"I glanced up to see my brother, Ryan, grinning as I walked into the business office for the first time. His grin was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile back, feeling a little lighter. This was a significant moment—my first day of work here—and seeing a familiar face was just what I needed."Good luck, sis," Ryan murmured, rubbing my shoulder. "You'll do great."Just then, my twin sister Sienna approached, crossed her arms, and looked me over. "Try not to mess things up, Scarlett," she added, smirking. "I mean, I know clumsiness is basically your brand, but this is a real job."My grin wavered, but before I could react, a familiar voice broke through the silence."She's going to do fine." Alex arrived, his cool assurance dominating the room. His eyes fell on me, and my heart sped as a result of his intense scrutiny. He gave me a comforting nod. "I've got faith in her."Ryan lifted an eyebrow, looking at Alex and me. "So, what exact
(Alex's POV)I looked around the workplace to ensure no one was around. I had been preparing this moment for weeks, ever since Scarlett strolled in wearing that fitting skirt and shirt that hugged her contours perfectly. I knew she was married, but the way she lingered at my doorway, her eyes meeting mine with a glimmer of intrigue, suggested she was up for some extracurricular activity. The tension between us had been palpable, growing with each gaze and lingering moment. Today, I was prepared to act on it.Scarlett's voice resonated throughout the room, and I couldn't help but smile at how breathlessly she screamed my name. She was embarrassed, her wrists shackled in front of her with cuffs, which she pulled against, pushing the boundaries. Her wide eyes met mine, full of astonishment and excitement, and I could feel the energy between us.With the door safely secured behind us, I approached Scarlett. She was leaned over the desk, sifting through documents, her hips shifting slight
SCARLETT POV“Come on, Scarlett! Open the door! It's time for breakfast!"I woke up to the sound of a loud knock, and I had to squint to get my bearings. Sitting up made my head spin, and I stared around the room in a fog. Was I at home? In my own bed? Mixed with fuzzy memories from the night before, confusion poured over me. When I remember being in Alex's arms, I remember feeling a rush of heat and desire. Our breaths mixed as we lost ourselves in each other.But I couldn't remember how I got home.I closed my eyes and stroked my face as I tried to figure out what had happened. How did I get here? Before I forgot everything, I could still hear his sweet speech and feel his warm body against mine. It felt like the memories were broken and unfinished because someone had pressed the stop button."What happened?" I said something to myself and rubbed my temples.My phone was on the table and showing a message. With my eyes closed, I reached for it and unlocked the screen. It was Alex's
Scarlett point of viewI looked over at Alex from across the breakfast table for just one second too long. His attention was on his food, so I didn't notice when I looked at him, but Sienna did. I quickly turned my attention back to my food as she loudly cleared her throat. The heat rose to my cheeks."Alex, would you like more roast beef?" Sienna held out a perfectly cooked slice on her fork and her voice was as sweet as syrup. "This is mine for you.Only the best for the best," she gushed.That made me feel jealous, but I forced myself to ignore it and concentrate on my food instead. It bothered me that Sienna could be so honest and shameless without giving it a second thought. I was good at hiding these things and not letting them show. I wish Alex could see me that way, look at me the way he looks at... I shook off the thought and stopped it. Attention, Scarlett. I thought Alex would always have my back as long as I knew his heart was with me. So it was.I went to my room to take
SCARLETT’S POV“What made you say that?” I didn’t mean to—”“Move aside, Sienna.” I interrupted her, not wanting to listen to any excuses she might have. My voice came out sharper than I meant it to, but honestly, I didn’t mind.Sienna blinked, her mouth opening a bit as if she had just been caught off guard. She bounced back fast, her expression becoming more serious. “Alright, Scarlett.Do it your way,” she said sharply, moving aside with a cold look that only made my irritation grow.I rushed past her, my heart racing with frustration and bitterness. Who does she think she is, anyway? This morning, I saw her feeding Alex breakfast, and her fingers seemed to linger a bit too long as she passed him his fork. Her eyes had that familiar look, the kind I’d noticed on her face before—the one that seemed to scream, I’m the one he’ll pick, not you.Two-faced. She really shouldn't be lecturing me about getting close to Alex, especially when she can't seem to control her own hands. Once I clo
(Alex’s POV)I picked up the phone on my desk and called Scarlett's number in a quiet but firm voice. “I want you to come to my office. Right now.”On the other end, there was a heavy silence. Since she ignored me all morning, I knew she was mad. Not a single time had she looked at me, and I wasn't going to let that defiant silence go. She sighed, which was a soft sign that she didn't want to do it, but after a moment, she did it. She knew what was going to happen, just like I did.When Scarlett walked into the room, she looked determined, but there was a hint of doubt in her eyes. It only took me a few steps to close the gap between us. I pushed her back against the wall and clicked the door shut. As I locked her up and let the weight of our silence speak for itself, she gasped and her breath caught."Why are you ignoring me?" I spoke in a low, demanding tone as I looked her in the eyes.Scarlett looked away quickly and said, "I'm not... ignoring you." Her voice was shaky."Really?"
SCARLETT’S POVMy thoughts were mixed up in the afterglow as I lay next to Alex. My heart was still beating fast from how intense the touch between us was. Even though it was warm, an unpleasant thought kept coming back to me. Why did he insist on keeping us a secret? But was it enough? I could tell he cared by the way he looked at me and touched me. Was I enough to stand beside him openly, for everyone to know?The silence lasted for a while, and I could feel a little stress building up inside me. I bit my lip and looked at him. "Alex..." I started out with a soft voice to see what would happen. "Why do we have to hide the fact that we're mates?Why can’t everyone know we’re together?”When he looked at me, his eyes were pleased and warm, which made my face heat up. He laughed and brushed a hair off my face. "You look cute when you're mad," he said.His careless answer made me a little angry, but I held my tongue and watched his face. He leaned in close and gave my face a soft kiss. T
SCARLETT’S POVI stood frozen in our driveway, taking in the devastation before me. Our family home, once proud and beautiful, now looked like a war zone. Windows were shattered, furniture strewn across the lawn, and deep claw marks scarred the walls."Who could have done this?" Mom's voice trembled as she picked up pieces of a broken family photo frame from the grass.Dad placed a protective arm around her shoulders. "We need to focus on moving somewhere safe first. Questions can wait."I stepped carefully through what remained of our living room. Glass crunched under my feet as I navigated around overturned furniture. The family photos that once lined the walls lay scattered and torn. My chest tightened at the sight of a shredded picture from my high school graduation.
SCARLET’S POVI sat stiffly in Ryan's office as he paced back and forth, his face red with anger. The morning sunlight streaming through the windows did nothing to soften his harsh expression."What's this I hear about you trying to seduce Alex?" Ryan slammed his hands on the desk, making me flinch. "Have you lost your mind?""That's not true," I clutched the armrests of my chair. "Sienna's lying to you.""Don't blame Sienna for your mistakes!" His nostrils flared as he ran a hand through his hair. "Do you know what Alex means to this family? To this pack?"I bit my lip, fighting back tears. If only you knew the truth."Without Alex, our father would be dead!" Ryan's voice cracked with emotion. "He saved Dad's life during that rouge wolf attack. He's been more than just an Alpha to us - he's like a brother to me."The irony of his words made my stomach churn. Some brother he is, playing with both your sisters' hearts."You should see him as a brother too," Ryan continued, his eyes bor
SIENNA’S POVI walked through the office corridors, searching for my twin sister with a smirk on my face. After seeing her watching Alex and me kiss earlier, I couldn't wait to rub it in her face. This will teach her to stay away from what's mine.The office was bustling with activity, but there was no sign of Scarlett. My heels clicked against the floor as I made my way to Alex's office. She's probably crying somewhere, I thought smugly."I was breaking up with my boyfriend," she announced, her voice echoing through the suddenly silent office. "Or should I say, ex-boyfriend now?"My heart stopped. She wouldn't dare..."Alex and I were together," Scarlett continued, her hands shaking. "We're mates, but that doesn't matter anymore."The whispers erupted around us like wildfire. I watched, frozen, as Alex's face darkened with rage."You and Alex?" I forced a laugh, trying to maintain my composure. "That's ridiculous!"But the truth was, I'd known all along. I'd seen the way they looked
SCARLET’S POVMy heart jumped when I heard Sienna calling from outside. Though I wanted to warn her about Alex's games, his hand quickly covered my mouth, muffling any sound I tried to make. The anger bubbling inside me only grew stronger – he was treating me like some dirty secret while openly flirting with my sister."Alex?" Sienna's voice carried through the door, sweet and flirtatious. "Are you busy?"I could hear her knocking, each tap making my stomach twist. Just as she was about to turn the handle, Alex finally moved away from me and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him."What do you need?" he asked, his voice taking on that smooth tone he used with her.From inside the room, I pressed my ear against the door, my hands clenched into fists as I listened to their conversation."I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch together," Sienna purred. "I made something special just for you."My chest tightened as I heard Alex's low chuckle. "That's thoughtful of you.""I kno
ALEX’S POVHer words hit me like a physical blow. Reject me? Break our mate bond? My hands clench into fists as I struggle to process what she's saying."You can't do this," I say, my voice coming out rougher than intended. The wolf inside me howls in protest, clawing at my insides with growing desperation. "The mate bond doesn't work that way, Scarlett."But looking into her eyes - those beautiful eyes that once held such warmth for me - I see only determination and exhaustion. The scent of her pain and resignation fills the air between us. This isn't how things were supposed to go. Yes, I was using her as part of my revenge plan, but somewhere along the way, everything became so complicated."I'm tired, Alex," she says, each word striking deeper than the last. "I'm tired of the games, the manipulation, the control. I want out.""No." The word tears from my throat before I can stop it. Images flash unbidden through my mind – Scarlett with another man, Scarlett smiling at someone else
Scarlet's POVI couldn’t bring myself to answer his calls anymore. Every time his name flashed on my phone screen, my chest tightened. The pain, the betrayal—it was too much to bear. The buzzing persisted, relentless, until I finally blocked his number. Silence replaced the noise, but it didn’t soothe the storm raging inside me.My parents begged me to take it easy. “Rest, Scarlet,” my mother pleaded, worry etched into her features. But how could I rest when my thoughts were consumed by him? By the mess he’d dragged me into?I stood in front of the mirror, pulling my hair back into a neat bun. My reflection stared back at me—pale, tired, but determined. I wouldn’t let him see how much he’d broken me. If he wanted to talk, I’d face him on my terms, not his.The office was quieter than usual when I arrived. I kept my head high, ignoring the curious stares from my colleagues. The tension in the air was palpable, but I wasn’t about to let it show.As soon as I stepped into my workspace, my
ALEX'S POVAs Scarlett left, my frustration boiled over. How could I tell her that if I publicized our relationship, her biggest enemy my father would kill her. I slammed my fist onto the kitchen counter, the sharp thud reverberating in the otherwise empty room. Scarlett’s words still echoed in my head, her anger like a dagger to my chest. Why did it always have to end in arguments with her? I clenched my jaw, running a hand through my hair, trying to push down the ache building in my chest.Just as I leaned against the counter, trying to steady my breathing, soft arms wrapped around me from behind. My heart jumped, hope briefly flickering in my chest. "Scarlett?" I murmured, turning slightly. But the scent was all wrong. It wasn’t her. It was Sienna.I froze, my body going rigid as I realized who it was. "Sienna," I said coldly, stepping forward to break her hold.Before I could fully turn around, she pressed her lips to mine. For a second, I stood there in shock, my mind struggling
Scarlett's POVMy feet moved before my brain could catch up. Instead of walking away, I found myself slipping through the side door – the one Alex always left unlocked for emergencies. My heart thundered in my chest as I crept through the familiar hallway, staying close to the shadows.Their voices drifted from the living room. I pressed myself against the wall near the doorway, out of sight but close enough to hear everything."I've missed you," Sienna's voice purred. My stomach churned at her tone.I peered around the corner, instantly wishing I hadn't. Sienna had her arms around Alex's neck, her body pressed against his. Before I could look away, she kissed him.Time seemed to freeze. I waited – prayed – for Alex to push her away. To tell her he was my mate. To show any sign that what we shared meant something.But he just stood there.Their lips remained connected, and each second felt like a knife twisting in my chest. The mate bond screamed in protest, but Alex didn't even flinc
Scarlett's POVI woke up alone in his bed, the sheets cold beside me. The memories of last night flooded back, making my cheeks burn. After a quick shower, I pulled on my clothes from yesterday, trying to gather my scattered thoughts.The scent of coffee and bacon led me downstairs where I froze at the sight before me. Alex stood at the stove, shirtless, his muscled back on full display as he cooked. Despite everything, my traitorous heart skipped a beat."I'm leaving," I announced, my voice steadier than I felt.Alex turned, confusion flickering across his handsome face. "Scarlett, I thought after last night...""You thought wrong." I wrapped my arms around myself. "What happened last night doesn't change anything. Especially not after you tried to force yourself on me yesterday."He moved toward me, but I stepped back. "Don't.""Please," he whispered, and before I could react, his arms encircled me from behind. "I'm so sorry. I'm a coward. I know I am."I felt something wet on my sh