They were laughing—so lost in their own world that they hadn’t noticed her yet. Luke’s arm was slung casually around the girl’s shoulders, his grip possessive, his smile smug. They looked… happy. Completely at ease with each other.Something twisted inside Arda.It wasn’t jealousy.Not even regret.Just… the bitter aftertaste of a memory that had once stung like an open wound.And then it happened.Luke looked up.His laughter faltered.His eyes locked onto hers.For a fraction of a second, time seemed to stand still.The recognition in his gaze was swift, followed by something else—something unreadable. Surprise? Confusion? Annoyance?Then his gaze shifted.To Gillow.A new kind of tension rippled through the air, almost tangible.Luke’s expression hardened as he made the connection. He had seen Gillow before—on that very same day. The mysterious man who had stolen Arda’s attention the moment he’d walked into the restaurant.Now, that man was sitting across from her. Holding her hand
Dear Arda, I know that you have no idea who this is but at the nearest possible time, you will. I wish you a happy twenty-first birthday and hope that you like the present attached to this note. PS: If any male asks you out, tell him that you’re already taken because you belong to me and I will mate you at the right time. I am The Alpha you will soon get to know. Having finished reading the handwritten note, Arda was at first filled with fear and uncertainty. The handwriting was clear, cursive, and written with dark ink on a plain sheet of white paper. She could not make much sense of the note. Alpha? Mate? What did that even mean? And why would the anonymous man say that she belonged to him? She was a human being. She belonged to no one. You cannot just own someone. Why was she even letting the message bother her? It could be a prank. Resting on that thought, she rolled her eyes and cast an amused gaze upon the note, believing that it was probably a prank from one of her fri
Arda stirred awake to the persistent beeping of her alarm clock. Without needing to glance, she knew it was 7:00 AM; she had set it precisely the night before to give herself ample time to prepare for the day ahead. The curtains were drawn tight, but a soft glow seeped through the fabric, hinting at the daylight outside. Bright beams of sunlight slipped through the slightly parted sliding window curtains, illuminating the room. Frowning at the alarm clock, Arda felt a twinge of annoyance, even though it was merely doing its job. She had a meeting with her project supervisor at 9:00 AM. Yet, there was a silver lining: she would be meeting Luke for lunch. This was their first date as a couple, and the thought sent a flutter of excitement through her. But then, she couldn’t shake off the memory of the strange note and the unexpected gift she had received the night before. While she hated to admit it, the expensive gift made it hard to dismiss the message as a simple prank. Arda s
It took Arda a few seconds to make her decision, leaving the jewelry exactly where it was. She wasn’t sure whether it was a prank or something deeper, but wearing it seemed unwise. Arda left the bedroom and walked down the corridor. All the doors to the other rooms were closed, a quiet stillness filling the house. As she entered the living room, she found Jacob seated at the dining table, his attention absorbed in the morning paper. A cup of coffee steamed in front of him. Fresh from a shower, Jacob wore loose pajamas, and when he saw her, he smiled. Arda, however, met his smile with a pout. “You promised to make me breakfast,” she reminded him, folding her arms. “You promised.” Jacob chuckled, putting down his newspaper. “Calm down. You didn’t even say hi.” “I’ll say hi when I see my breakfast,” she teased, stepping closer to the table. “And here I thought living with you girls would be a breeze,” he groaned in mock despair. “People envy me, but if only they knew.” “Drama king.
“You’re the only student I’ve ever asked out,” Ray said, his tone suggesting that this fact alone should sway her decision. Arda met his gaze, knowing he was probably telling the truth. Most students were careful around him, treating him like a walking minefield. “I’m not interested in that kind of arrangement,” she replied, keeping her voice firm. “If you change your mind, let me know,” Ray responded calmly. “I won’t,” Arda said quietly, and she doubted she’d ever reconsider. Still, she was worried he might victimize her for refusing him. But she told herself she would cross that bridge if she ever got there. He smiled, unfazed by her rejection. “Refusing me won’t affect your grades or my commitment to helping you with your project.” “Thank you,” she said, relieved that he wasn’t pushing it further. Ray pulled out her file, stamped “Approved” on her project topic, and handed her a copy. He slid the original back into the folder. “Let’s go over what I expect from your first cha
Homeland lay nestled at the edge of the world, where nature ruled with forests, mountains, and glittering lakes stretching far beyond the eye could see. Its unique blend of rural charm and modernity gave it a timeless quality. Surrounded by rolling hills and deep valleys, Homeland offered its residents both the serenity of the wild and the comforts of civilization. The city's landscape catered to all walks of life — from professionals working white-collar jobs in modern offices to artisans shaping their craft through carpentry, sculpting, and painting. The rhythm of Homeland's life was slow but purposeful, with the scent of pine trees and fresh air blending with the hum of daily activity. Arda drove along the quiet streets, the early morning sun casting long shadows over the road. There was a refreshing calmness about the day; traffic moved with ease, a welcome change from the usual bustle. She felt the cool breeze as it flowed through her open window, the perfect accompaniment to th
Arda stared blankly across the table, her emotions swirling as the revelation about Jacob and Karina settled in. “I don’t understand. Why would they keep their relationship away from me?” Her voice faltered, carrying both hurt and confusion. “I’m their friend.” Luke sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe they had a reason. You should ask them directly.” He reached out, placing his hand over hers in an attempt to soothe her. “Don’t overthink it. There’s probably a good explanation.” “Three years, Luke. We’ve been friends for three years. I just… I thought we were closer than that.” Luke squeezed her hand gently. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you by telling you.” His brows furrowed, regret clear on his face. “I hate seeing you like this.” Arda’s expression softened slightly, the weight of his concern cutting through her disappointment. “Thanks,” she muttered, managing a faint smile. “That’s better.” Luke smiled back, his eyes twinkling as they locked onto hers. “Let’s enjoy
That evening, the reading room was quiet. Arda, Karina, and Jacob sat at a large square table, their heads buried in books. The table, designed with partitions for privacy, could accommodate six people, making it perfect for study groups.The room’s walls were painted a soothing mix of green and burnt orange, with inspirational quotes scattered across them. But Arda’s mind was far from inspired. She stared at her open notebook, her thoughts clouded by memories and worries.She had intended to start writing her thesis, but all she could think about were Luke’s recurring headaches. The episodes replayed vividly in her mind, unsettling her more than she cared to admit. Her thoughts then drifted to the restaurant encounter with the mysterious, handsome stranger. The pull she felt towards him was unlike anything she had experienced before, leaving her both intrigued and confused.Shaking her head, Arda reminded herself she had a thesis to write, not time for distractions. With a deep breath
They were laughing—so lost in their own world that they hadn’t noticed her yet. Luke’s arm was slung casually around the girl’s shoulders, his grip possessive, his smile smug. They looked… happy. Completely at ease with each other.Something twisted inside Arda.It wasn’t jealousy.Not even regret.Just… the bitter aftertaste of a memory that had once stung like an open wound.And then it happened.Luke looked up.His laughter faltered.His eyes locked onto hers.For a fraction of a second, time seemed to stand still.The recognition in his gaze was swift, followed by something else—something unreadable. Surprise? Confusion? Annoyance?Then his gaze shifted.To Gillow.A new kind of tension rippled through the air, almost tangible.Luke’s expression hardened as he made the connection. He had seen Gillow before—on that very same day. The mysterious man who had stolen Arda’s attention the moment he’d walked into the restaurant.Now, that man was sitting across from her. Holding her hand
Chapter Title: A New PathArda caught a glimpse of her newly manicured nails and smiled. She liked the way they looked, but the sight also brought back a memory—Gillow’s earlier refusal to let her fix them in the first place.“Alpha,” she said quietly.“Yes, mate?”“About my nails… Did you tell Karina to discourage me from fixing them?”Gillow didn’t even pretend to feign ignorance. “Sure.”Of course, he wouldn’t deny it. That was just how Gillow was.“She mentioned you were entertaining the idea during one of her sessions, so I told her if you tried it, I would have her head.”Arda’s heart skipped a beat. “But it wouldn’t have been her fault if she couldn’t stop me.”“True. But I didn’t care.”“That was mean, Alpha.”He chuckled. “I know. But… with my understanding today, you have my permission to do it. No more than twice every quarter of the year.”“Is it negotiable, considering I have the right to—”“Let’s not talk about rights now, mate. Let’s enjoy the moment and visit rights la
As the car rolled to a stop in the park’s parking lot, Arda took in the lively fast-approaching evening scene outside. People were scattered across the grounds, some walking, others lounging on benches, while children ran about, their laughter mingling with the rustling of the evening breeze. The atmosphere was warm, inviting—yet for her, this place held memories she wasn’t sure she wanted to relive.She reached for the door handle, but before she could push it open, Gillow's hand gently stopped her.“Allow me,” he said smoothly, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I want to be the perfect gentleman tonight.”She couldn’t help but smile at his playful tone. With that, he stepped out, walking around to her side. True to his word, he opened the door for her and extended his hand. She took it, feeling the strength in his grip as he helped her out.As he shut the door behind her, she noticed Gillow’s men discreetly taking strategic positions throughout the park. It was subtle but unmistakable—h
When Arda's nails were done, she admired the result, turning her hands under the light with a pleased smile. The polished, glossy sheen made the short length artificial fingers look elegant, and she felt an undeniable satisfaction. Gillow, watching her, chuckled softly. “They look perfect.”She grinned. “I agree. Thanks.”The beautician beamed when Gillow tipped her generously. “Thank you so much, sir!” she gushed, her gratitude evident.Gillow nodded in acknowledgment before guiding Arda out of the salon. As they settled into the car, she continued admiring her nails, twisting her fingers and tilting them at different angles. She had truly enjoyed the day so far.Gillow stole a glance at her, amused by her fascination. It pleased him that she was happy.Arda, however, soon realized she had no idea where they were heading. Lowering her hands, she turned to him.“Where are we going now?” she asked curiously.He smirked, eyes still on the road. “Has someone forgotten something?”“What?
Gillow held her close, whispering words of encouragement into her ear. His voice was low, warm, and steady, a grounding presence against the storm of emotions she was struggling to control."It's okay, princess, everything will be fine," he murmured. Then, with a teasing lilt, he added, "Don't cry, or I will join you."The thought of Gillow crying was so absurd that a small chuckle escaped her, breaking through the lump in her throat. He liked that—her laughter, however faint—and pressed a kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment as if sealing the comfort between them.She was beginning to compose herself, and with a handkerchief from his pocket, he lightly dabbed her face, wiping away the traces of her earlier distress.Then, taking her hand in his firm yet gentle grasp, he led her toward the section for pedicures. The soft hum of music played in the background, blending with the quiet conversations and the rhythmic sound of water bubbling in foot spa basins. Without h
As the car rolled out of the school premises, Arda turned to Gillow, curiosity in her eyes. “Where are we going now?”“To transform your hair,” he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Did you think I was joking?”She perked up, excited. “Really? I like that. Thanks.” She gave him the address of the small salon where she usually got her hair done. It wasn’t fancy—just a low-end place with no air conditioning, but the stylists knew their craft, and they always gave her a discount.Gillow arched a brow. “We’ll be going somewhere else.”Arda frowned. “But I’ve been going there for years. They know me, and I always get a discount.”He smirked, clearly amused. “You’ll like the new place. Now that cost is no longer a problem, let’s do it right.”Arda liked the idea but felt a pang of guilt at ditching the people who had been doing her hair for years just because Gillow was paying better. She bit her lip, debating whether to protest further, but when they arrived at the salon, her argument
The professor’s voice finally broke through, thin and shaky. “B-but you’re so…young. I don’t under—” His eyes widened as a deeper realization struck. He stumbled back, his face ashen. “You’re a…vampire…” His trembling worsened. “Please…please don’t kill me, sir. I have a wife…children…two daughters and two sons”"And if a lecturer harrases your girls, would you like it?""I'm sorry, Sir. It...it won't happen again."Gillow’s voice was ice. “You’re fired, professor. You have until tomorrow to clear your office and vacate these premises.”The professor fell to his knees, desperation overtaking him. “Please, sir! This is the highest-paid university. My family depends on this job. I swear, I promise, it will never happen again!”Gillow didn’t flinch. His voice was cold as steel. “Direct your apologies to her.”The professor turned immediately to Arda, crawling toward her on his knees. “Madam, please, I am deeply sorry. It will never happen again. I swear it.”Gillow moved with lightning s
Arda trailed far behind Gillow, her legs struggling to keep up with his long, determined strides. The bright corridor of the administration building seemed to stretch endlessly before her, sunlight streaming through the tall windows, illuminating the polished floors. People passed by on their own errands, their chatter and footsteps filling the space, but all Arda could focus on was Gillow’s imposing figure moving steadily ahead.His shoulders were taut, his fists clenched at his sides, radiating a fury she didn’t dare interrupt. She wanted to call out to him, to ask him to slow down, but she swallowed the words. The thought of drawing the attention of the people around them, of exposing whatever this was in public, made her hesitate. Instead, she hurried as best as she could, her breaths coming in short, anxious gasps.By the time she reached the professor’s office, Gillow had already disappeared inside. The door was ajar, and she paused just outside, gripping the edge of the frame a
Gillow reluctantly ended the kiss, his lips lingering near hers for a moment before he pulled back, a small smirk on his face. “We don’t want you being late for school, mate,” he said, his tone calm but teasing.Arda nodded, her fingers brushing her lips briefly as she followed him to the car. When she saw him heading for the driver’s side, her brows lifted in mild surprise, though she didn’t comment.He opened the door for her, gesturing to the passenger seat. “Your throne, for now.”She slid in, a small but genuine smile pulling at her lips. This time, it was different—no other passengers, no Sue’s mate at the wheel. Just them.As they hit the road, Gillow glanced at her, catching the subtle but pleased look on her face. “You look content,” he remarked, smirking.She tilted her head slightly, feigning innocence. “Do I?”“You do,” he replied, a knowing glint in his eyes. “And I think I know why.”Her lips curved faintly, but she didn’t say anything, letting him take the bait.“You li