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 POVWhen I walked into Alex's office the next morning, I could still feel my anger from the night before. Instantly, when he looked up and smiled, my heart stopped beating, even though I was trying to hold on to my anger.His voice was warm and smooth as he said, "Good morning.""Good morning."I forced a tight smile on my face and almost crossed my arms. “Sienna said some... interesting things to me yesterday, I thought you should know.”He raised an eyebrow, and his eyes showed that he was laughing. "Oh?What did she said to you?""Nothing special, just the usual." I said, I tried to keep my tone relaxed, but I could feel a small edge in my voice. "In case you didn't know, she doesn't like it when I'm with you."Alex gave me a soft laugh and reached out to grab my hand, pulling me closer. "Scarlett, you should know that Sienna has worked here before you did. And plus you both don’t like each other much.” He gently squeezed my hand. "Don't let her bother you."I let out a s
SCARLETT’S POVThe room was very quiet. It was the kind of heavy, almost physical quiet that made it hard to breathe. I could feel Alex's anger pushing down on me; his tense vibe was all around me. His normally cool and collected face had turned into something darker and more primal, and everything in me begged me to be careful."What did you do?" Alex asked me. He ordered with a low, steady voice that had a dangerous edge to it. His hold on my wrist got tighter, and I felt a sharp pain go up my arm. I bit my lip because I didn't want him to get pleasure from seeing me cry.I kept my face blank because I was determined to act like I didn't know what he was talking about. I tried to keep my voice calm when I said, "I don't know what you mean," but the small quiver showed that I wasn't really there.Alex didn't move his focused, angry look. His grip got tighter, and he looked at her with a scary look in his eyes. His uncontrolled alpha energy grew thick and heavy around him, smothering
SCARLETT’S POV"So you're not going to listen to me," he said in a whisper, running his hand down my arm and leaving a warm mark.Being in a hurry, I looked around the room quickly to find something to hold on to while my mind tried to come up with an excuse."I-I won’t," I stutter, my voice shaking. The pens moved when Alex slammed his hand on the desk. "You're always being feisty, aren't you?"He pushed me toward the meeting table before I could say anything. He had a strong grip on me that wouldn't let go, and I felt a rush of fear and excitement. "You think you can mess with me and get away with it?"He hissed. His face was so close to mine that I could feel the heat coming from him.I gasped when his teeth dug into the soft skin of my neck. He leaned down on me out of the blue. I got a shock from the sharp sting, which sparked something inside me I didn't know what it was—a strange mix of fear and desire. I had never seen this side of him before, but there was something exciting
ALEX’S POVAs I drove to Scarlett's house, I tightened my hands because every ring of my ignored calls was making fun of me. She was very angry, almost furious. "How could you do this to me?" were her words from earlier, which were full of pain and blame. I think she was right when she said I was cruel. If I had taken her in anger and made her lose her virginity as a punishment, I would feel guilty. But I couldn't stand for her disobedience any longer. Scarlett wasn't supposed to be able to challenge me, but here I was, looking for her like a man who was crazy.It wasn't just anger, though. Something about Scarlett made me lose all the self-control I had worked on over the years. I tried to tell myself that I was just being bossy and that she needed to learn her place. But I knew in my heart that I had crossed a line. I could no longer lie to myself—Scarlett was the one who made me feel something I didn't want to feel. As part of my plan to get back at him, she was meant to be a pawn.
(Scarlett's POV)It was very quiet in the office when I got there. Even though I was really hungry, I had to skip breakfast to stay away from Alex. Because of what he did, I wasn't ready to face him. He took something from me that was mine to give away for free, and he said it was as punishment. It was even worse that he didn't feel bad about what he did and instead of saying sorry, just came home to return the file. “Scarlett, dont be stupid and fall for his games or charm,” I scolded myself. Thats what I deserve it.As I poured the hot coffee into my mug, I held on tight to the coffee pot and thought about what had happened. Why did I let it happen? I hated how easily I gave in to his touch and how my body lied to me about how strong I was.I told myself off as I shook my head. I said under my breath, "No more, Scarlett." He was wrong to think he could control me. He did not want our mate bond to be known? Okay. For now, I'd play along with it. But I wasn't going to do nothing and
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