The following morning, I wake up with a knot of anxiety in my stomach, my mind already racing with thoughts of the impending meeting with the Alpha of the Crescent pack and the CEO of the resort. I take extra care in getting ready, my hands trembling slightly as I smooth out my knee-length dress, the fabric hugging my curves in a way that makes me feel both confident and vulnerable. I check my reflection one last time, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves before stepping out of my room.
As I gather the files needed for the meeting, a sense of trepidation washes over me. This is my first business meeting without supervision, and the weight of responsibility sits heavily on my shoulders. I can't afford to mess this up, not when M Corp's reputation is on the line.
With each step towards the office section of the resort, my heart pounds faster, my palms growing clammy. I pause outside the meeting room, closing my eyes and blowing out a shaky breath, trying to calm the
We stroll towards a beautiful restaurant nestled close to the beach, the gentle rhythm of crashing waves providing a soothing backdrop to push down the sense of dread that threatens to overwhelm me. At least the location is pleasant, I tell myself, trying to find a silver lining in this uncomfortable situation. To my surprise, Alpha Collins insists on ordering for both of us, assuring me that I'll love his choices. I don't argue; instead, I focus on ordering a glass of iced tea to soothe my frayed nerves while he opts for a simple cup of water.As our lunch progresses, I find myself pleasantly surprised by Alpha Collins's behavior. True to his word, he steers our conversation towards substantive business matters, discussing the costs and logistics of the resort's new design plans. His focus remains squarely on the details, not allowing our previous tension to derail the discussion.Emboldened by his professionalism, I decide to pitch some ideas I have been mulling over on how he could
ALEXI uphold my end of the deal, playing the role of a devoted couple with Alice for the past three agonizing days, each moment stretching into eternity as I force myself through the motions of fake affection and empty gestures. The charade leaves me feeling hollow and miserable, a gnawing emptiness gnashing at my insides as I count down the moments until its inevitable conclusion.The worst part isn’t enduring the facade with Alice but rather the searing glare of jealousy from my brothers, their eyes burning with accusation as if I am genuinely competing for Alice’s affection. Their silent judgment weighs heavily upon me, exacerbating the torment of my own guilt and self-loathing.Yet, amidst the suffocating confines of my charade, the absence of Hannah’s presence cuts the deepest. Each unanswered call, each ignored message, serves as a painful reminder of the chasm that now lies between us. I can’t blame her for avoiding
HANNAHI step out of the room, my heart heavy and aching from the conversation I just had with Alex. The weight of our complicated relationship presses down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Why can’t things be simple between us? Why does every step forward feel like a battle, a constant push and pull that leaves me drained and raw? For the first time, a traitorous thought whispers through my mind - a desperate wish that someone else was my mate, someone who wouldn’t hurt me so deeply.“Hannah?” A familiar voice calls out, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. I lift my head to see Alpha Collins standing before me; his brow furrowed with concern. “Oh my goodness! Are you okay?” He closes the distance between us in a few long strides, his hands gently grasping my arms as he searches my face.“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just allergies,” I reply, the lie falling flat even to my
Suddenly, the space between Alpha Collins and me seems to shrink, his face appearing closer than it was just a moment ago. My eyes widen in surprise and a flicker of panic. What is he trying to do? Just then, a gust of wind blows across the cliff as if nature itself is trying to knock some sense into me.I shoot up to my feet abruptly. "I think I should leave. I'm feeling better. Thank you," I blurt out, needing to create some distance, both physical and emotional."No problem, let me walk you back," Alpha Collins offers, rising as well, his expression unreadable.I don't protest as I realize I'm not quite sure of the way back to the hotel. But as we walk in tense silence, my mind races with a torrent of thoughts and emotions. What the hell was I thinking, letting myself get so close to him, both literally and figuratively? What if one of my pack members had seen that moment of vulnerability, of connection? I'm supposed to be the future Luna, for goddess' sake.
The following morning, I wake up feeling groggy and mentally exhausted, as if the weight of the world is pressing down on me. All I wish for at this moment is to crawl back under the covers and hide from reality for a little while longer, but that's not an option. I have work to do and responsibilities to attend to, whether I'm ready to face them or not.With a heavy sigh, I drag myself out of bed and get ready, trying to ignore the dull ache that has taken up permanent residence in my chest. I make my way to Alpha Collin's office at the resort, steeling myself for whatever fresh complications await me today.As I arrive, Alpha Collin's secretary informs me that the cooperation deal has been canceled. "Canceled? I don't understand," I say, my brow furrowing in confusion."She means Alex has withdrawn his offer to invest in the resort," a familiar voice says from behind me. I spin around to see Alpha Collin himself, and one look at his expression tells me he's fa
I drop my suitcase in my room, my heart heavy with dread as I realize what I must do next. As much as every fiber of my being rebels against the idea, I know I have no choice but to seek out Alice and ask about Alex' whereabouts. His brothers, even if I had their numbers, are unlikely to answer, and calling his parents would only raise alarm before I even know if he's truly missing or just taking a break from the world. That leaves Alice as my only remaining option.With leaden feet, I make my way to her door. I knock softly, the sound echoing in the stillness. "Come in," she calls, her voice dripping with false sweetness. I step inside, and the stark contrast between her room and mine is like a slap in the face. Hers is a haven of luxury, with a queen-sized bed draped in the most expensive bedsheets money can buy, all in her favorite shade of pink. The sight stirs a bittersweet memory of my own room, once adorned in similar hues until Alice's jealousy forced me t
I don't know how long I sit on the floor, my body wracked with sobs, but by the time I finally muster the strength to pick up my phone and silence, it's incessant ringing; my eyes are bloodshot, and my voice is raspy from crying. I try my best to compose myself as I answer Luna Marely's call, not wanting to burden her with the depth of my pain."Hey, Hannah, we saw the news. Don't worry, we are doing everything we can to take it down immediately," Luna Marely says, her words shocking me to the core. I had steeled myself for a barrage of curses and warnings like the ones my parents had hurled at me, but never did I expect such unwavering support."Hannah, are you there?" Luna Marely's gentle voice pulls me back from my thoughts."Yes, I'm here," I manage to croak out, my throat tight with emotion."You sound horrible, child. Please don't cry. We know you didn't cheat on Alex, so don't worry about what others say. The most important thing now is to find Ale
The door creaks open, but I don't bother checking who it is, assuming it's just my brothers returning. Big mistake. The next thing I know, a shock of icy water hits me square in the face, jolting me out of my misery."What the fuck!" I roar, leaping to my feet, ready to make the person regret, but then I see who's standing there, empty glass in hand, and my heart stops."Hannah," I breathe. Water trickles down my face and chest, soaking my shirt, but I barely feel it. All I can focus on is her, here, in front of me. "Is it really you?"I reach out to cup her face, desperate to feel the silk of her skin beneath my fingers, to confirm she's not just a cruel mirage. But she steps back, holding up a hand to halt my advance. The rejection stings like a slap."We need to talk," she says, her voice cool and businesslike. "There's a problem at the company that requires your attention."O