I retreated to the Pearl Room, leaning against the door the moment it clicked shut behind me. Now that I was alone, the adrenaline starting to peter out, all I could think about was that scent.It still lingered in my nose, the same way Elroy’s enraged profile seemed seared into my eyelids. My hands
My footsteps echoed through the stone corridor, each footstep matching the pounding of my heart. The council room loomed ahead, its ornate wooden doors a silent sentinel guarding my fate. Beside me, Elroy's face was a mask of concentration. His brow was furrowed in thought but I knew better than t
Until a stern voice broke through the noise. "I concur with our Luna." My head snapped towards Elroy, my eyes widening in disbelief. I had truly believed he would be silent before the council, but he stood tall next to me, his posture resolute. My heart fluttered involuntarily. "Our laws are not
Elroy’s POV Olivia's shoulders were set, her jaw clenched as she strode past me into the council chamber. She didn’t even give me the chance to reassure her, and that made me uneasy. She just must not have seen me open my mouth, I reasoned. I tried to ignore that nagging feeling that said otherw
Olivia’s POV The musty scent of old tomes swirled around me as I settled into my favorite spot in the library's far corner. I spread my notes across the worn oak table, determined to lose myself in the investigation and escape the whirlwind of emotions Elroy had stirred up. It was the way Elroy
Elroy's fingers traced the curve of my spine, sending shivers through my body as he undressed me. I closed my eyes, determined to enjoy this. Think of it as giving yourself a reward for your victory today, I thought to myself. Sex didn’t have to mean anything. "You're incredible, Olivia," Elroy
My body was tired enough to demand sleep, though, so at least I wasn’t laying awake all night. Still, I woke up early and extricated myself from Elroy's embrace. I couldn’t stand the mess anymore, and what the shower didn’t wash away the bidet would. Sadly, by the time I was done Elroy was awake
I squinted at the files in front of me, the lightning outside casting dancing shadows across the room. The musty scent of old books filled my nose as I hunched over the heavy oak table, surrounded by stacks of records and case files. "I thought investigating crimes would finally get me out of this
My fingers brushed the cool wall for balance as I navigated away from the council chamber, every muscle in my body crying out for release from tension's unyielding grip. Elroy stood close at my side, helping guide me. I could tell his protective instincts were flaring as he saw my tiredness setting
I pulled myself back in, allowing my aura to recede just enough to give them room to breathe. I was fucking furious, and it felt like there was lava in my veins, but it wasn’t time to erupt. Not yet.The tension in the chamber was palpable, the air thick with the scent of unease as the council membe
I kept my voice steady, in spite of the quaking in my chest. If they knew I was nervous they would pounce on me."The White Paw Initiative will serve as a secondary response system, focusing specifically on crimes against Omegas,” I explained. “It will not be a police force, and instead focus on gat
The council chamber devolved a tempest of snarled objections and flared tempers, a cacophony of dissent that clawed at the fringes of my resolve. “You have no right!” someone shouted above the tumult, making me scoff.But Elroy, magnificent and fierce, responded before I could speak. His voice was a
I felt my resolve firm. Elroy was right—the council did not hold the power, and it was time for them to face it. I nodded, took a deep breath, and pushed open the doors.The council members' angry faces greeted us, their voices rising in a cacophony of demands and accusations. But as I stepped into
A thunderous pounding on the door jolted me from Elroy's embrace. My stomach flipped unpleasantly; we’d known the council would move fast, but I’d thought we’d at least get through the first commercial break before they rattled our door.I locked eyes with my Mate, a grim and wordless conversation p
Elroy's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a mixture of concern and anger. "Olivia," he said softly, taking my hands in his. "You're safe now. He can't hurt you anymore."I shook my head, the dread spreading through me like poison. "But don't you see? If it could happen to me - an Alpha woman who
It wasn’t any easier to listen to the second time around.“I always thought Pete was just stoic,” Ines's voice quavered as she began her story, “maybe a little socially stunted at worst. I didn’t think he was bad.”She explained how she’d always been told it was her duty to get married and give a ma
My heart raced as I stared at the blank television screen, hands clammy with nervous sweat. Any moment now, Ines would appear, ready to reveal the painful truths that had been kept hidden for so long. Beside me on the plush sofa, Elroy's leg bounced with barely contained anxiety.We were both terrif