(Scarlett's POV)The only sound in the hallway was the sound of my shoes hitting the tile floor. When I saw Thomas leave Alex's room, I stopped short. His face was red and stressed, like he had just come from a fight instead of a meeting. He barely looked at me and brushed past me without saying anything or even giving me the silly grin he always had.He didn’t ask for a phone number. Didn’t say anything silly or flirty.Something happened.I frowned and turned my head to see him leave. His shoulders were stiff, like they were carrying an unseen weight. What did Alex do to him?Suddenly, I could smell a familiar scent: a rich, woodsy smell with the clear musk of an alpha wolf. It made my neck stiffen. I knew who it was right away, without even having to look.Alex.I could feel his presence around me like a shadow. My heart was beating faster, which showed that I wasn't as calm as I wanted to be."What makes you look at him that way?" His deep voice was quiet, but it was sharp enough
Scarlett’s POVAs I walked down the hall to my office, I was still trying to cool down from all the chaos in my mind. My heart was heavy, and I think my face showed too much of how I felt. I was still tense from my fight with Alex, and every step made me think of the kiss that was still burning on my lips.Sienna was there when I walked out of the office. My twin sister, the perfect, favorite person of everyone. The way she stood and smiled while waiting outside my office made me feel even more out of place.As soon as she saw me, her eyes got narrow. "Scarlett? Is something wrong?" she asked with her head tilted. "You look like you've been crying."I tensed up and naturally ran my fingers over my face. "I'm fine." I lied, "I was just tired.Alex gave me a mountain of work to do, and it’s wearing me out."Unconvinced, Sienna arched her perfectly shaped brow. "Are you sure it's only work?You don't usually look this... stressed out." Her voice was soft, but I didn't like how it had a hint
Sienna’s POVAs soon as we walked into the restaurant, Scarlett's back straightened up. It looked like she was trying to figure out why I brought her to this restaurant with her sharp eyes. I kept a calm face and smiled in the same silly way that always threw her off. At least not yet, she didn't need to know my real plan.The air was full of talk. I heard laughter from a close table, which led me to them right away. Faces I knew from high school. Old school friends. Like they always did, most of them were dressed to impress and try to shine brighter than the others. Wonderful.Scarlet's frown got worse when she saw them too. "Wait a minute... Is this some kind of school got-together?" Her voice was tense with doubt.I pretended to be innocent by laughing softly. "No, not really." I heard that some people were hanging out here, so I thought it would be fun to join them. It's not dangerous.”Her face turned darker. "Fun? I don't believe that. I'm leaving."I grabbed her arm before she
Scarlett's Point of ViewI stomped off, leaving Sienna and Damien behind. Forgive him? Not yet. Maybe never. Even if someone said sorry, the hurt they caused was still there. I kept hearing Damien's voice and hearing him beg for a second chance. But those memories—his mean laugh and how he humiliated me— it felt like a second skin. Could people really change? Could he change? As I walked away, my heart and mind were at war in silence. Each step felt heavier than the last.Lost in my thoughts, I ran into someone as I was walking in rage. Someone. My breath hitched as I took a step back and said, "Sorry,".The man and his friends didn't brush it off, though. Instead, they came closer, and their eyes locked on mine. I got a chill up my spine. My legs felt like they were frozen when I tried to move away.One of them sneered, his eyes staying where they shouldn't during the whole thing. On my breast. "Hey sweetheart, why don't you stay the night with us?"Fear rushed through me and mad
Alex’s POVI meant to call Scarlet to my office to finish the talk we started, but she didn't answer when I called her. That's strange. Scarlet was very careful with her work, and she could always reach her phone. I went to her desk because I thought it would be faster to check in person. Empty."Where’s Scarlet?" I asked a nearby interns."She left with her sister, sir," Sarah, one of the intern, said nervously as she looked at my face.Sienna? In the middle of the day, what could they be doing? The unease that was building up in my chest made me try to shake it off. Scarlet didn't usually skip work without a good reason, but the thought of her going so quickly made me sad. I need to talk to Sienna.The second ring caught her attention. "Alex, wait until you hear me out before you get angry—""Where are you guys while working hours?" My tone was cut off. She shouldn't have thought that my relationship with Scarlett was a secret."Alex!" I didn't like how Sienna's voice was always so
Scarlet POV"Please, Alex, don't do this," I begged as I looked at the leather straps that were connected to the bedposts. My voice was shaking. The thought of being tied down hurt my wrists, but what scared me more was the fire in Alex's eyes—a wild, unquenchable storm I had never seen before. I couldn't find the Alex I knew—the one who held me so carefully.It wasn't an answer. It was worse for me to hear him than to hear him shout. As he grabbed my wrists, his hold was strong but not painful. My heart was racing. I got a chill when the cold cuffs hit my wrists and held me in place. The click was like a hammer hitting a rock, and it made my breath catch."You let that bastard touch you." He leaned close to me and his low growl shook the air. His hot breath was against my ear. "You let him kiss you."The accusation cut me like a knife. My eyes filled with tears as shame and fear mixed. "It wasn't my choice, Alex," I sobbed, my voice breaking. I was grabbed by Damian.He took a quick
Scarlet's Point of View“How did I come here?” I groaned in pain.Every part of my body hurt when I woke up, and my skin felt raw and damaged, like it had been through something I couldn't quite understand. When I finally opened my eyes, I was in the safety of my own room, but it didn't make me feel better. Everything came back to them like a weight.Alex. Last night.The flashes came on quickly and sharply, like a painful electric shock going through my mind. Yes, he did bring me home. But not the way I had hoped or wanted. I missed the chance to say what I meant. I missed the chance to tell him I didn't want any of it and that I just needed him to hear me.“He is not the man I wanted as mate. Did I do wrong to accept him as mate?” I questioned myself.His punishment terrifies me.That's what he took. I had no choice but to let him. That's when I realized how protective he really was. The thought made my chest tighten, and I felt angry and sad at the same time.I should have known. I
SCARLETT’S POVI don't know how long I stood there and looked at Sienna, but it seemed like forever. Every word she spoke hit me like a slap in the face, and I got more and more angry as time went on. As I tried to stay calm, my hands curled into fists at my sides. It was getting harder as the minute went on.“Are you really so shameless?” I shot back in anger. I could feel Sienna's anger coming from her, like she was about to pounce on me at any moment. Her eyes were red with rage. She looked at me with a glare that said it all: her arms crossed over her chest."Oh, please stop your shit. And tell me what's going on between you and Alex?" She snapped. Her voice was full of irritation. "Why did he leave with you? Are you playing a new game?"The bile was rising in my throat. What a jerk she was. I was the one who set me up in the most embarrassing way, but she was the one who thought I needed to explain myself. It wasn't funny.I tried to stay cool by taking a deep breath, but all I
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
SCARLET'S POVI woke up in an unfamiliar bed, the soft sheets tangled around my legs. Blinking against the dim light filtering through the curtains, it took a moment to realize where I was. Alex’s room. My heart raced as the events from earlier came rushing back. His anger, his grip, the way he—I shot up, clutching the sheets to my chest, panic clawing at me. Had he… done something? My hands trembled as I checked myself, my pulse thundering in my ears. To my surprise, everything seemed fine. No marks, no soreness… nothing. A wave of relief crashed over me, though it did little to calm the unease swirling in my chest.The door creaked open, and my head snapped toward it. Alex stood there, leaning casually against the frame, his expression unreadable. His eyes met mine, and something flickered in their depths—guilt? Regret? I couldn’t tell, and frankly, I didn’t care.“I need to go home,” I blurted, throwing the sheets aside and swinging my legs off the bed. My voice trembled, betrayin
ALEX’S POVThe phone felt heavy in my hand as my father's words echoed through the speaker. "So, what's happening with Scarlett, son?"My blood ran cold. I scanned the living room, trying to keep my voice steady. "Everything's going according to plan, Father. Why do you ask?""Don't play dumb with me, Alexander." His tone carried that familiar edge of steel. "I've been watching. You're getting soft.""Watching?" The words came out sharp as I moved through the house, checking windows and corners. "How exactly have you been watching?"His dark chuckle made my skin crawl. "Did you really think I'd let you handle this mission without surveillance? After what her mother did to our family?""You bugged my house?" My free hand clenched into a fist. "What happened to trust?""Trust?" He barked out a laugh. "The same trust you're showing by falling for our target?""I'm not falling for her," I snapped, but the lie tasted bitter.Silence crackled over the line. When he spoke again, his voice wa
ALEX POVThe way she was ignoring, rejecting that echoed in my ears, like a curse I couldn't escape. I gritted my teeth, my claws itching to emerge as anger bubbles in my veins. I had tried to be patient, tried to understand, but Scarlett's rejection, her refusal to even talk to me, was driving me insane.“Fine, if you are not listening me, the you didn’t left me any choice,” I growled. She shook her head, crossing her arms and then stubborn way that made my wolf growl louder. “I don't want to hear you, just drop me to my parents house,” She spat her words like daggers in my chest. Before I knew it, I snapped. My hand shot out, grabbing her wrist as I yanked her from the car.“What the hell are you doing?” She let out a startled crying, her eyes widening and shocked. I ignored her.My wolf was in control now and it wanted her, needed her, even if she hated me for it.“ Alex let me go,” She screamed, clawing at my arms as I am hoisted her into my arm.Her resistance was nothing inf
SCARLET’S POVThe hospital room had become my prison, not just physically, but mentally. Every beep of the monitors, every shuffle of nurses' feet outside my door reminded me of fear, my pain, and because of whom I suffered.I was bit relieved that Alex hadn't visited me in days. Good. That's what I wanted, wasn't it? But in the quiet hours of the night, when the pain medication couldn't numb the ache in my heart, I couldn't lie to myself. “I missed you.Why did you broke my heart?” I muttered under my breath. Yes, I missed him with an intensity that scared me. I was the one who asked him to stay away from me, and not show his face, and now here I was missing him again. My fingers absently trace the healing cuts on my arms, each one a reminder of those terrifying hours when I needed him most, when I'd been so sure he'd come for me. Because that's what true mates did, right? They felt each other's pain since when something was wrong.But he hadn't come.“How are we feeling today, Miss
Sienna’s POVThe steady beep of hospital monitors echoed through the halls as I watched my boyfriend sitting by Scarlet's bedside. Again. My stomach churned at the side of his gentle expression, the way his fingers absently trace patterns on her sheets. Even unconscious, she commanded his attention like a magnetic force. I couldn't fight.This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I was his girlfriend, yet here he was spending every free moment with her. But tonight would be different. With Scarlet safely tucked away in her hospital bed, I finally had my chance.The red silk dress hugged my curse perfectly as I waited in Alex's apartment, Bart racing when I heard his key in the lock.“Sienna,” He stopped short, the briefcase dropping from his fingers. “I wasn't expecting you.”“I thought you could use some company,” I move closer, letting my hips sway. “You've been so stressed at the hospital, let me help you relax.”His eyes flickered over my dress, but something was missing in his gaze,