Ember Maverick's unexpected words knocked the wind out of me. I sat there, paralyzed, my hand was still firmly locked in his grasp. “If it was just a one-night thing-” he said, his voice barely above whisper, “-would I have dropped everything and come here to Arizona just to see you?” He exhaled and continued, “You kept running every single time, leaving me worried and distressed. Don’t even try to pretend you haven’t felt this between us.” His gaze held mine, intense and unrelenting, making my palms grow sweaty, even under the chill of the wind up here. My heart raced and my pulse pounded in my neck. My voice was stuck in my throat, unable to form words. His thumb traced gentle circles on my palm, sending shivers down my spine. It was a tender touch, but with an undercurrent of possessiveness. I should have pushed him away and run, but his words were compelling, believable. Talking in that tone, he was doing it again, giving me false hope—helplessly and relentlessly breaking thr
MaverickFlashbackI exploded, bolting out of the cabin. The consuming rage burned through my veins like wildfire, eating everything it touched—my reasoning, my thoughts—clouding them like a fog in the woods, wrapping everything in its misty embrace. The trees blurred together as I sprinted into the forest, my heart pounding in my chest as if it wanted to burst out and escape from me.But the voice whispering in my head to turn back, to wrap my hands around her throat. Make her pay didn't stop.I had never felt anything like this before. I had never stopped from killing my prey for someone, and she made it possible.That thought alone infuriated me—him rather, the rampaging untamed beast within me. He wanted out so he could go back and kill her, along with Mariam or whatever she might have called the lady whom she stopped me from killing.I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. No, no, no. Not again.For the second time that day, I wrestled with the monster inside
PresentEmber“So, she wasn't lying when she said you're married?” tilting my head, I asked curiously. Honestly, I wanted to know more, even though I knew I shouldn’t be asking. I shouldn’t be digging into his past, but a part of me still wanted to know.“Yes... she didn't lie. But you have to trust me; I don’t have anything to do with her anymore.”“I guess.”“Yeah…” he replied, and then silence filled the air between us—heavy, almost to the point of suffocation.I lay back on the concrete floor beside him, my hand nearly touching his. I eventually tucked it behind my head, mirroring his posture.We just looked at the sky, feeling the breeze brush our faces—soothing, calming. This was exactly why I loved coming here to clear my head when I felt overwhelmed.I couldn’t help but ask myself at that moment, ‘Do I really deserve happiness? Do I deserve to be happy, to experience it again?’Lyra wanted me to be happy, Alpha Jordan wanted that too, and I’m sure if Derek were alive, he would
MaverickShe broke into a scream as I held her in my arms and leaped off the building. But her palms quickly covered her mouth, muffling the sound when she realized she was safe. We glided through the air until our feet touched the ground, thankfully no one was paying attention to the building, so I was sure no one saw.“That’s insane! You should’ve warned me or something.” She frowned, folding her arms as she walked away.I quickened my pace to catch up. “Did I scare you?” I reached for her hand to slow her down, but she stayed silent, ignoring me completely.Was she upset? I know I shouldn't have done that, she must've been taken off guard, thus leading to her annoyance. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that… I’m really sorry.” I apologized, reaching for her arm.But I was stunned when she suddenly burst out laughing, giving me a playful shove. “You’re apologizing? I was only pretending! Honestly, that was wild—and amazing too, I must admit. I mean, we were practically flying!” She
Ember“Ember, hurry up and get out here! We’re starving!” Lyra’s voice rang out from the dining table, teasing but loud enough to make her point.I could almost see her rolling her eyes, a little grin tugged at my lips as I called back, “On my way!”I arranged the dishes on the tray, carrying them to the dining table, where Lyra and Kai were already seated.As I entered, Lyra’s gaze swept over me, and she let out an exaggerated sigh. “Finally,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, her voice filled with drama as she continued sarcastically, “We were this close to death.” she indicated with her fingertips.“Oh please, Lyra,” I growled playfully.Just then, Alpha Jordan walked closer, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. “What’s going on?”Lyra shot me a mischievous look before turning to him. “It’s Ember,” she said, grinning. “She’s been holed up in the kitchen, smiling like an idiot. I almost got chills seeing her like that, considering how cold she’s been lately.”Alpha Jordan chuckled
Ember I thought I will be able to pull this off successfully, however I'm not so very confident right now.I was wondering what it'll be like with him for the first time as not a business partner… om that topic, what are we really? Logically, he admitted taking a likeness to me, and I might've like him too… no, I likes him too.God's I couldn't even tell exactly when that happens. Inhaling, and exhaling. The sand was cool beneath my feet as I stepped onto the beach. A handful of people were at the shoreline, their voices mingling with the distant crash of waves. My eyes scanned the place, searching for him but there was no sign of him, even though he'd texted he will be here at 6pm, and I'd done a good job spending extra minutes at home to not appear overly excited and too over the date with him, in the end i was still the first to get here.However, my search was set aside when I caught a glimpse of a white yacht anchored a little further out,It was beautiful, I admit, but when
“Do you want to take a sit over there over a cup of wine?”“Alcoholic?” I asked the man preparing to say no, there's no way I'm drinking wine that contain alcohol, not after my experiences with alcohol. “Fruity, it's tastes like an alcohol, but it has not even 1% in it, do you want to give it a try?” “No harm in trying.” I chuckled.The Yatch had slowed down now, in the middle of the sea, “Why aren't ships or Yatch other than this one moving anyway?” I asked curiously moving to the swim platform. I was expecting to see Yatch or cruise ships moving around but none, I had noticed at the beach that there were lesser people compared to how crowded beach used to. “The whole place is ours for today, and don't tell me you're dunking your legs in the water in that?” He pointed to my dress.I stared down embarrassed to look at my flowing black gown, I laughed awkwardly, “I will be changing that.” I never thought about that sincerely.“You should, there's a lot to choose from in the first se
Ember“So… now that the yacht’s gone, what are we supposed to do?” I asked, glancing around at the wide-open water stretching as far as I could see.“Wait for it, I guess,” he replied, way too casually. “Probably just ran low on gas.”I narrowed my eyes, noting the way he smirked ever so slightly. “Is this some kind of setup? Was this your big surprise?”He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not at all. This was definitely not part of the plan. But look—it’ll come back. We just have to wait.”I shifted uneasily, trying to mask my growing anxiety with humor. “What if we end up living out some kind of real-life Jaws nightmare?”He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Seriously? You’re a werewolf—you’re supposed to be the one scaring off predators.”I rolled my eyes, smirking back. “Yeah, well, if wolves can eat fish, why shouldn’t a shark be able to enjoy some wolf?”He let out a soft laugh, sweeping his dripping hair back. “You’re something else.”I swallowed, glancing back at the empty horiz
Ember“So… now that the yacht’s gone, what are we supposed to do?” I asked, glancing around at the wide-open water stretching as far as I could see.“Wait for it, I guess,” he replied, way too casually. “Probably just ran low on gas.”I narrowed my eyes, noting the way he smirked ever so slightly. “Is this some kind of setup? Was this your big surprise?”He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not at all. This was definitely not part of the plan. But look—it’ll come back. We just have to wait.”I shifted uneasily, trying to mask my growing anxiety with humor. “What if we end up living out some kind of real-life Jaws nightmare?”He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Seriously? You’re a werewolf—you’re supposed to be the one scaring off predators.”I rolled my eyes, smirking back. “Yeah, well, if wolves can eat fish, why shouldn’t a shark be able to enjoy some wolf?”He let out a soft laugh, sweeping his dripping hair back. “You’re something else.”I swallowed, glancing back at the empty horiz
“Do you want to take a sit over there over a cup of wine?”“Alcoholic?” I asked the man preparing to say no, there's no way I'm drinking wine that contain alcohol, not after my experiences with alcohol. “Fruity, it's tastes like an alcohol, but it has not even 1% in it, do you want to give it a try?” “No harm in trying.” I chuckled.The Yatch had slowed down now, in the middle of the sea, “Why aren't ships or Yatch other than this one moving anyway?” I asked curiously moving to the swim platform. I was expecting to see Yatch or cruise ships moving around but none, I had noticed at the beach that there were lesser people compared to how crowded beach used to. “The whole place is ours for today, and don't tell me you're dunking your legs in the water in that?” He pointed to my dress.I stared down embarrassed to look at my flowing black gown, I laughed awkwardly, “I will be changing that.” I never thought about that sincerely.“You should, there's a lot to choose from in the first se
Ember I thought I will be able to pull this off successfully, however I'm not so very confident right now.I was wondering what it'll be like with him for the first time as not a business partner… om that topic, what are we really? Logically, he admitted taking a likeness to me, and I might've like him too… no, I likes him too.God's I couldn't even tell exactly when that happens. Inhaling, and exhaling. The sand was cool beneath my feet as I stepped onto the beach. A handful of people were at the shoreline, their voices mingling with the distant crash of waves. My eyes scanned the place, searching for him but there was no sign of him, even though he'd texted he will be here at 6pm, and I'd done a good job spending extra minutes at home to not appear overly excited and too over the date with him, in the end i was still the first to get here.However, my search was set aside when I caught a glimpse of a white yacht anchored a little further out,It was beautiful, I admit, but when
Ember“Ember, hurry up and get out here! We’re starving!” Lyra’s voice rang out from the dining table, teasing but loud enough to make her point.I could almost see her rolling her eyes, a little grin tugged at my lips as I called back, “On my way!”I arranged the dishes on the tray, carrying them to the dining table, where Lyra and Kai were already seated.As I entered, Lyra’s gaze swept over me, and she let out an exaggerated sigh. “Finally,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, her voice filled with drama as she continued sarcastically, “We were this close to death.” she indicated with her fingertips.“Oh please, Lyra,” I growled playfully.Just then, Alpha Jordan walked closer, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. “What’s going on?”Lyra shot me a mischievous look before turning to him. “It’s Ember,” she said, grinning. “She’s been holed up in the kitchen, smiling like an idiot. I almost got chills seeing her like that, considering how cold she’s been lately.”Alpha Jordan chuckled
MaverickShe broke into a scream as I held her in my arms and leaped off the building. But her palms quickly covered her mouth, muffling the sound when she realized she was safe. We glided through the air until our feet touched the ground, thankfully no one was paying attention to the building, so I was sure no one saw.“That’s insane! You should’ve warned me or something.” She frowned, folding her arms as she walked away.I quickened my pace to catch up. “Did I scare you?” I reached for her hand to slow her down, but she stayed silent, ignoring me completely.Was she upset? I know I shouldn't have done that, she must've been taken off guard, thus leading to her annoyance. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that… I’m really sorry.” I apologized, reaching for her arm.But I was stunned when she suddenly burst out laughing, giving me a playful shove. “You’re apologizing? I was only pretending! Honestly, that was wild—and amazing too, I must admit. I mean, we were practically flying!” She
PresentEmber“So, she wasn't lying when she said you're married?” tilting my head, I asked curiously. Honestly, I wanted to know more, even though I knew I shouldn’t be asking. I shouldn’t be digging into his past, but a part of me still wanted to know.“Yes... she didn't lie. But you have to trust me; I don’t have anything to do with her anymore.”“I guess.”“Yeah…” he replied, and then silence filled the air between us—heavy, almost to the point of suffocation.I lay back on the concrete floor beside him, my hand nearly touching his. I eventually tucked it behind my head, mirroring his posture.We just looked at the sky, feeling the breeze brush our faces—soothing, calming. This was exactly why I loved coming here to clear my head when I felt overwhelmed.I couldn’t help but ask myself at that moment, ‘Do I really deserve happiness? Do I deserve to be happy, to experience it again?’Lyra wanted me to be happy, Alpha Jordan wanted that too, and I’m sure if Derek were alive, he would
MaverickFlashbackI exploded, bolting out of the cabin. The consuming rage burned through my veins like wildfire, eating everything it touched—my reasoning, my thoughts—clouding them like a fog in the woods, wrapping everything in its misty embrace. The trees blurred together as I sprinted into the forest, my heart pounding in my chest as if it wanted to burst out and escape from me.But the voice whispering in my head to turn back, to wrap my hands around her throat. Make her pay didn't stop.I had never felt anything like this before. I had never stopped from killing my prey for someone, and she made it possible.That thought alone infuriated me—him rather, the rampaging untamed beast within me. He wanted out so he could go back and kill her, along with Mariam or whatever she might have called the lady whom she stopped me from killing.I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. No, no, no. Not again.For the second time that day, I wrestled with the monster inside
Ember Maverick's unexpected words knocked the wind out of me. I sat there, paralyzed, my hand was still firmly locked in his grasp. “If it was just a one-night thing-” he said, his voice barely above whisper, “-would I have dropped everything and come here to Arizona just to see you?” He exhaled and continued, “You kept running every single time, leaving me worried and distressed. Don’t even try to pretend you haven’t felt this between us.” His gaze held mine, intense and unrelenting, making my palms grow sweaty, even under the chill of the wind up here. My heart raced and my pulse pounded in my neck. My voice was stuck in my throat, unable to form words. His thumb traced gentle circles on my palm, sending shivers down my spine. It was a tender touch, but with an undercurrent of possessiveness. I should have pushed him away and run, but his words were compelling, believable. Talking in that tone, he was doing it again, giving me false hope—helplessly and relentlessly breaking thr
EmberHe came for me? As much as that would've been a response I wanted, however it annoys me more that this man, regardless of having a wife, still comes to look for me, and still boldly claims that he was here for me. I shouldn't be surprised, provided that I've had such terrible luck with men— even the fated one by the moon goddess had given me nothing but betrayal and heartache.I stepped out of the studio passageway, craving some fresh air and space to clear my head. I made for the stairs, my mind was occupied by my growing thoughts as I descended, each step was nothing but a deliberate escape from the tension lingering after me, But then I heard his footsteps behind me, and my gut twisted into knots. I quickened my pace, not ready to face him yet. And I'm glad he didn't say anything as he would've done on a normal day. And sincerely, his silence is much appreciated right now.I stepped outside, letting the city swallow me whole, My eyes flew to the towering ten storey buildin