ALEX’S POVThe guilt was suffocating.I couldnt stop thinking about what happened to scarlet. What has they done to her? I had never imaged they would go so far. When I received the call that she had been found at the river, unconscious and near death, it sent a chill through me. I had never considered that she would be hurt like this, they would go to such lengths to break her.I hate myself even more. WHY DIDN’T I ACT SOONER?I leaned back in my chair, my hands tightening around the armrests as my mind spiraled. The image of her– drenched, abused, helpless,-- was burned into my memory. I never thought i would care like this for her. I have convinced myself i didnt need to protect her, thst she wasn’t my first priority. Revenge was my first priority; my father was more important than her. I had told myself that all she was to me was a pawn in this revenge game, a tool to serve my revenge, But now… Now i realized that i had been lying to myself, or should say fooling my own feelings.
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,