Avery I stood in front of Montgomery Pharmaceuticals, the sun setting behind the sleek glass building, casting a golden glow over the scene. The warm breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of chirping birds filled the air. Clara walked toward me, a radiant smile spreading across her face, her hair blowing gently in the breeze. Her eyes sparkled with warmth, and her steps were light and carefree.As she approached, we fell into easy conversation, laughing and reminiscing about old times. We talked about our favorite memories, our voices intertwining like the branches of the nearby trees. The tension in my shoulders began to ease, replaced by a sense of comfort and familiarity.Clara's smile was contagious, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear. We were lost in our own little world, oblivious to the dangers lurking in the shadows.But then, without warning, Sasha emerged from the darkness.Her eyes gleamed with malice, and her presence was like a cold w
The Montgomerys sat around the breakfast table, basking in the warmth and comfort of their family gathering. The sunlight streaming through the windows cast a golden glow, illuminating the fine china and crisp linens. Mr. Montgomery, his jovial smile a testament to his love for his family, turned to Sasha."Sasha, dear, how's everything going with Nathaniel? You two seem quite serious," he asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.Sasha's smile was radiant, her face aglow with happiness. "Everything's perfect, Father. Nathaniel's absolutely smitten. I'm sure he'll propose soon." Her voice was confident, her eyes sparkling with excitement even though she was lying. Mrs. Montgomery's eyes sparkled, her hands clasped together in delight. "Oh, that's wonderful! We'll finally have a wedding to plan. I've been dreaming of this day for years!" She turned to her husband, her expression conspiratorial. "Dear, we'll have to start making lists – venues, caterers, guest lists..."Mr. Montgomery
NathanielI settled into the couch, a triumphant grin spreading across my face as I watched the news. Montgomery Pharmaceuticals was finally getting its due. The screen displayed the company's plummeting stock prices and Sasha Montgomery's worried expression.Avery sitting beside me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Nathaniel, how did you do it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.I chuckled, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction. "Let's just say I have my sources," I replied, winking at her.”I told you that I won’t let anyone get implicated, so you see and you don’t have to worry anymore.” Avery's eyes widened. "You're amazing," she breathed. "I'm so proud of you."Clara, sitting on the other side of me, nodded in agreement. "We make a great team," she said, smiling.I chuckled and smiled at Clara, I love the fact tbat she will go to any extend for Avery. "Couldn't have done it without you, Clara. Your insight into the company's inner workings was invaluable."Clar
Clara walked down the street, her mind was consumed with thoughts of the files she had stolen from Avery Pharmaceuticals. She couldn't believe what she had discovered - the company was knowingly producing a harmful drug that was causing more harm than good to cancer patients. She knew she had to do something about it, but she also knew that she had to be careful. The police were now involved, and she didn't want to draw any more attention to herself.After buying some food to calm her nerves, Clara made her way back to her apartment. She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that was gnawing at her insides. She had always prided herself on doing the right thing, but this situation was different. In order to bring justice to those who had been harmed by Avery Pharmaceuticals, she would have to come forward with the information she had stolen. But that also meant risking her own safety and reputation.As she sat at her kitchen table, picking at her food, her phone began to ring again. Thi
Sasha's long strides took her through the intricate corridors of Montgomery Manor, each step echoing off the grand walls as if the very building itself conspired to amplify her anger. The folder she clutched in her hands contained secrets that were meant to be safeguarded, and the violation of their sanctity had ignited a fierce fire within her. The weight of betrayal sat heavy on her shoulders, a burden that fueled her relentless pursuit of justice.As she flung open the ornate door to her mother's study, Sasha's chest heaved with the effort to contain her seething anger. Mrs. Montgomery sat regally behind her grand desk, an air of authority surrounding her like an invisible shield. Her cold gaze met Sasha’s fiery glare, each woman a mirror of the other’s steely resolve."Sasha," Mrs. Montgomery's voice was composed, the calm surface belying the storm that raged within her. "What has transpired that has roused such ire in you?"Sasha's voice was sharp as a blade, cutting through the
Avery and Nathaniel sat in the dimly lit living room, the hushed sounds of the evening seeping through the walls as they grappled with the shadow of uncertainty that loomed over them. Avery's hands trembled involuntarily, a physical manifestation of the fear and worry that gnawed at her insides. Nathaniel's gaze never wavered from her, his concern etched in the furrow of his brow, a silent beacon of understanding in the midst of her turbulent emotions."Avery," Nathaniel's voice was a gentle caress, a soothing melody in the cacophony of her fears. "I can see how worried you are about Clara. We'll find her, I promise."Avery managed a shaky smile, a fragile facade that crumbled under the weight of her own deception. The burden of her hidden truth bore down on her, a heavy weight that threatened to suffocate her. "I appreciate your efforts, Nathaniel, but it's been days since I've heard from her. This silence, it's... it's not like her. I can't shake the feeling that something's really
The heavy silence in the room hung thick as Sasha Montgomery’s fury swirled like a storm waiting to break. She stood rigid by the large windows of the penthouse, her fists trembling with pent-up rage, her gaze locked on the dark city skyline below. Every inch of her body was a coil of tension, coiled tighter by the thought that Clara, the woman who had done nothing but undermine her and threaten everything the Montgomerys had worked for, was free.Free from her clutches when she wanted her dead! Sasha’s breathing came in short, controlled bursts, but inside, she was seething. She turned on her heels, pacing sharply across the marble floor, the sound of her high heels clicking like a countdown to disaster.“How the hell did she escape?” Sasha’s voice cracked through the silence like a whip. She spun to face the gathered men, her loyal but now crumbling team of enforcers. The group of burly, grim-faced men stood frozen, their eyes trained on the floor, not daring to meet her gaze. “You
Avery’s POV I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. It wasn’t just the guilt; it was the overwhelming feeling of helplessness. Clara... She almost didn’t make it. She was lying in that hospital bed, unconscious, and I was here, stuck at home with nothing to do but wait. I was supposed to be there with her, holding her hand, keeping her calm after everything she had been through. Instead, all I could do was cry, pacing around the living room, clutching my phone as if it could somehow make everything better.I couldn’t believe I had let it go this far. That one decision had almost cost Clara her life. Clara had put herself in the line of fire to help me…help me get back at the Montgomerys for everything they had done to me.I grabbed the sleeve of my sweatshirt and wiped my face. No time to wallow in guilt. Clara was strong. I had to believe that. She would make it through. She had to.My phone buzzed in my hand, and I nearly dropped it, startled. Nathaniel. I hesitated for a moment be
NathanielI could feel the adrenaline surging through my veins even before Oliver finished speaking. Mr. Montgomery, the man who had always been the picture of strength, had collapsed. He was the kind of man who never showed weakness, someone who carried himself with an ironclad resolve, unbending in the face of adversity. So, hearing that he was in any sort of trouble felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me.I had to know what happened. Now.“Are you sure of what you are saying?” I asked and Oliver nodded “Yes I am very sure, there is no way I would have come up with fake news, I am telling you the truth.” “Olivia, what happened?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I meant. The words tumbled out faster than my brain could catch up.He was shaking her head, looking more flustered than I’d ever seen him. “I don’t know. I was just there when it happened. he just collapsed. They called the ambulance. I…” his voice trailed off, and I could see the worry on his face. The wo
AveryThe phone slipped from my trembling fingers, clattering to the ground with a sharp, unforgiving sound. My eyes remained glued to Nathaniel, still processing what he had just said. It felt as if my heart had stopped beating, my entire body frozen in shock. I could hear the ringing in my ears, louder than anything else, drowning out everything he was saying.“Your dad is in a coma, Avery.”The words echoed in my head, over and over, but none of them seemed real. This couldn’t be happening. My mind was fighting against it. It had to be some mistake, some cruel joke. But Nathaniel’s face… it wasn’t joking. His expression was serious, filled with concern, but that didn’t make it easier to believe.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. “No. That can’t be right. He’s fine. He is always fine.” My voice was small.Nathaniel stepped closer, crouching down to pick up my phone from the floor, but I barely noticed. My eyes were still locked on him, searching for some glimmer of re
By the time the next week rolled around, the plans to relocate the project team to Crescent Moon Pack were in their final stages. Everything was moving faster than I had expected. It felt like I had barely gotten my feet under me again after returning from the pack, and now I was heading back into their world. But this time, I wasn’t going to be there to stay. I had a project to manage, and my head was focused on the tasks ahead, not on the triplets or the complicated emotions that came with them. I only had one job to do, which was to do some research and avoid everything else. Ruby was also getting ready to leave. She’d been a great support to me, especially after everything that had happened with the triplets. But now, it was her turn. She had arranged an introduction between me and her mate before they traveled. She was insistent on it, and as much as I tried to avoid the subject, she wouldn’t let up. “I’m not going to leave without you meeting him,” she had said one evening whe
I sat in the study, the quiet hum of the house around me doing little to calm the storm swirling inside. My fingers absently tapped the edge of my desk, but I couldn’t focus on anything, nothing but her voice. “It’s disgusting, Lucas.”The words had landed heavier than I expected, heavier than I wanted to admit. They repeated in my mind, over and over, as though she was still standing in front of me, her eyes flashing with anger, her voice cutting through the space between us. Disgusting. The word felt like a punch. And I couldn’t quite shake the sting.I had gone too far, hadn’t I?I hadn’t meant to upset her, hadn’t meant to cross any lines. But watching her with Ryan tonight, seeing the way that man had looked at her and tried to touch her, I couldn’t sit by and pretend it was fine. She didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. But the way she’d turned on me, my attempt to protect her, to help, had been met with nothing but contempt.She doesn’t need me to protect her.That’s what her
When I regained consciousness, the world felt wrong. It was the kind of wrong you sense in your gut, but your mind is too clouded to process at first. My body ached, a deep, dull pain radiating from my neck and limbs. I tried to move, but the restraints holding me were tight, unforgiving. I could barely move my wrists, let alone my legs. My surroundings were unfamiliar, cold, metallic, and humming with the low, steady rumble of an engine. I blinked several times, trying to adjust to the dim light.The realization hit me slowly. I’m on a plane.I jerked my head to the side, feeling the sharp tug of the ropes, but nothing gave. There was no escape. The air around me was thin, carrying a stale scent that made my stomach churn. As I struggled to orient myself, I saw Elena. She was seated across from me, her gaze locked on mine, unwavering and predatory. “How long?” I rasped, my throat sore from the silence. My words felt foreign, like they hadn’t been used in days. “How long was I out?”
From where I stood, in the corner of their chamber, I noticed there was some other presence just like me, some other vampire like me was also present, and I could smell them.I watched as Agiel stabbed the girl on her chest, and I let out a grin, my whole body, thirsty for her blood, and as the man beside her took her away, I walked out of the room gently and unnoticed.I decided to head back to the vampire castle, but first I needed to know if what felt right, I needed to know if exactly there was another vampire.As soon as I was out of sight and into the bushes, I had the leaves rustle and I froze, not out of fear but the fact that I know that, whoever that is knows I'm a vampire.“Show yourself.” I said, as I lowered the hood of the jacket I was wearing, to cover my face, and protect me from the blazing sun.“Show yourself already and don't hide inside the bushes.” I said, looking around me.“Draven?” The voice called, out of surprise, I turned around, my eyes widened in disbelief
The door slammed behind Kingston, the echo lingering in the air like a warning. Jason stood by the window, his posture tense and jaw clenched, as though he was ready to throw someone else out if need be. The room felt charged, as though an unspoken threat lingered in every corner. I watched as Kingston walked to his car, turning around severally with a puzzled look on his face. “What the hell was that about?” I finally asked, breaking the heavy silence. My voice sounded stronger than I felt, but I wasn’t going to let Jason’s mood intimidate me.Jason turned, his dark eyes meeting mine with a stormy intensity. “You need to stay away from him, Willow. All of you do.”Ruby, seated on the couch, raised an eyebrow. “And why’s that? He seemed creepy, sure, but what’s the big deal?”Jason’s lips pressed into a hard line. “He’s not a good person, that’s the big deal. Trust me on this one. A few years ago, I worked on a case where Kingston was involved. I can’t go into details, but he’s bad n
I could see the pain and anger in Annalise's eyes as Agiel confessed all that he had done in the past. I couldn't help but feel her pain as she sat close to me, her hands trembling with pain and anger.Everyone in the room was horrified at what Agiel had done. The leader of the council ordered the guards to take him away as he would be executed in some days time.Annalise pulled away from my hug, as the guards walked Agiel out of the room, but as soon as Agiel was close to Annalise's side of the table, he tackled the guard and lunged at Annalise with a knife, stabbing her on the chest before I could even blink an eye.I stood frozen, breath caught in my throat as my eyes widened in disbelief. My face drained of color, lips parted slightly, as if trying to speak, but no words came out.A shiver ran through me, and my hands trembled, as I tried to touch the wounded part of her chest, my heart pounded erratically, as I couldn't tear my gaze from the horrible scene, unable to fully compre
Days after what Xavier said, I decided to give the Eligara members a chance, so we set out to the crimson shadow pack and also with Agiel as a prisoner.Once we reached the crimson shadow pack, we headed to the council of Eligara and met them patiently waiting for us.As we entered the chamber, we were given a warm welcome, and proceeded to having our seats while Agiel was cuffed and made to stand in the center of the room.I sat at the council table, my fingers tapping impatiently against the wood, I still wasn't happy with them and I wanted to get this done with as soon as possible.My jaw was set tight and a low growl, rumbled in my throat, as I watched some council members droning on about matters that I'm not concerned with as they approached the table to take their seat.My sharp gaze flickered around the room, catching the indifferent faces of those who seemed worlds apart from the primal instinct thrumming within me.As the council members droned on while getting ready to addr