After Genevieve called, I quickly hung up the phone, my mind racing with a mix of emotions. I couldn't believe that someone would want to kill Clarissa in her bedroom, despite the tight security. The news was a shock to me, and I immediately told Cade about the situation. Cade gasped and shook his head."Ivan," Cade said, his brow furrowed in thought. "He's always been bitter about her leaving him. He may be responsible."I nodded, my temple pounding with each beat of my heart. The thought of someone hurting Clarissa made me sick to my stomach. But at the same time, I was relieved that Clarissa's dad had always hated me, and now he would know that I had good intentions toward his daughter."Let's go to the hospital," I said, grabbing my keys. "I need to see her and make sure she's okay."" Come on man," Cade smirked, tugging on his earlobe. " That's not a good idea. Why not call her instead? "After hearing from Clarissa I was relieved she was better. Cade sat across from me at the
I woke up to a pounding headache that felt like hammers inside my skull. My mouth felt dry like sandpaper and the taste of alcohol was still present. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the pain, and groaned, rolling over in bed. Fuck! I wasn't alone. My heart raced as I saw a figure lying beside me, and my eyes widened in shock when I realized it was Malory. She lay half naked, with her head propped up on one arm. Shit. Shit shit shit shit. My brain was going on hyperdrive. It was hard to believe someone this petite could deceive me. And even more shocking that I fell for her scheme. I didn't know how she'd done it, but I suspected she spiked my drink.I shook her gently, trying to wake her up, and as she opened her eyes."What are you doing here?"I asked in a panicked voice. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, before sitting up and pulling her hair into a bun. "What do you mean?" she asked, a smirk playing on her lips. "You don't remember last night? You fucked me so much I pas
I was discharged from the hospital after two days of rest and care. As I stepped out of the hospital room, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The bruises on my skin had faded away and I felt much stronger than before. My parents were by my side, helping me navigate down the hallway toward the exit.As we walked towards the reception, I was greeted with a sea of familiar faces from the pack who clamored to say hello and ask about my well-being. My father, being the well-respected Alpha that he was, took his time speaking to each one of them, taking the time to respond to them.After what seemed like an eternity, we finally made it outside the hospital and into the bright sunshine. The warmth on my skin felt good and I took a deep breath, feeling thankful to be out of the hospital room. My parents led me towards the car and I gingerly took my seat, the journey home was a quiet one with my parents giving me space to rest.We arrived home and my parents helped me up to my room. I was
I was sitting in the conference room with my IT team, eagerly testing the new software application we had been working on for months.As the tests began, my team was silent, their eyes fixed on the screens in front of them as they meticulously checked every line of code. I, too, was focused, my eyes scanning the reports and metrics that were displayed on the large monitors around the room.The tests were grueling, but we were all determined to find any bugs or glitches in the system. I was proud of my team and their commitment to quality, and I knew that the results of this test would be critical in determining the success of the project.After hours of testing, we finally reached the end. I breathed a sigh of relief as the final report came through, and I was pleased to see that the software was working perfectly. My team cheered, clapping and congratulating one another on a job well done.With the tests complete, I took my team out to lunch at a restaurant across from the office. We
I felt heavy with guilt as I sat in my room, staring at the blank page in front of me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had let Clarissa down, that I had somehow failed her. My thoughts kept drifting to the moment when I would have to tell her the truth about what had happened and I felt like a weight was bearing down on me, crushing me with its pressure.I tried to push the thoughts away and focus on my drawing, but it was no use. The thought of losing her made me feel sick to my stomach.My dad didn't see anything wrong in what he had done and my mum sided with my dad."Jalen, you're acting so irrationally," my dad said, "I don't understand why you're so against this. You need to start thinking about the pack and your future as our king Marrying Malory would secure your spot.""But I have marked Clarissa and I love her," I yelled angrily, "You can't force me to marry someone else just for the sake of the pack.""Love? What do you know about love?" my mum interjected with a scof
Today was my 24th birthday and although it was supposed to be a day filled with celebration, I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in my chest. As a female in my pack, tradition dictated that I must be married before I turn 25. The pressure to make decisions about my future was weighing heavy on my mind.I was jolted awake by the melodic chirping of birds outside my window. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up in bed, taking in a deep breath in an attempt to calm my racing thoughts. Suddenly, the door to my room creaked open and my mother appeared, dressed in her favorite night robe."Happy birthday, Clarissa," she said with a warm smile, as she approached my bed holding a small, intricately wrapped box. I tore off the pink paper to reveal a pair of stunning diamond earrings nestled inside."Thank you, Mum," I said, trying my best to sound grateful. But she could see right through me, as mothers often do."Come on, I expected a bit more excitement," she said
The car engine roared to life as I quickly jumped into the back seat. My heart was racing, I couldn't believe I was leaving everything behind for Jalen. My bodyguard looked at me through the rearview mirror with a serious expression. Bryon sat beside me, his hand gently placed on my shoulder, "Rissa, are you sure about this?" He asked in a soft voice. I took a deep breath and nodded, "Jalen needs me, and I need to be there for him."The car accelerated down the road, the wind blowing through my hair. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. The car ride was long and quiet and we got to the Lycan border. "Jeez, these guards are fierce," Bryon said to me. The car rolled to a stop and a row of imposing figures stood at attention, their eyes focusedon our vehicle. They were all dressed in black, and their expressions were stern and unwelcoming.My bodyguard stepped out of the car and approached the guards, "We are here to see Jalen," he announced.The guards frowned angrily and on
The morning of my dad's funeral was a somber one. The sun had just begun to break over the mournful hills, casting a pale glow over the world that seemed to reflect the mood of everyone who was gathered there. It was a rainy morning, with fat drops of water tapping against the windows of the funeral home, adding to the sense of sorrow that seemed to hang over the entire world.Nobody felt like eating breakfast that morning, despite the spread that had been laid out for us. The food was unappetizing, and nobody had the heart to touch it. Instead, we all sat in silence, lost in our thoughts and grieving the loss of my father.As I passed through my dad's study, I couldn't believe he was dead. The room was exactly as he had left it, and I could almost imagine him sitting behind his desk, working on one of his projects. But then reality would hit, and I would remember that he was gone and that he would never return.I found myself thinking about all the unresolved issues I had with my dad
I write this vote of thanks with a full heart, overflowing with gratitude and appreciation. I have just completed the first part of this book, and I cannot express how grateful I am to have all of you here to share this moment with me.I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of my readers for your unwavering support and for sticking by me, even though there may have been some errors in the book. Your understanding and patience has meant the world to me, and I cannot thank you enough.Special thanks to Mama bear, Oladipo Titilope, Chelsea Hench and the rest of yoou for your beautiful comments. I love you so much This book was written in less than two months, during a time when my schedule was incredibly hectic. The fact that you have found my crappy writing worthy, despite the limited time I had to dedicate to it, is a testament to your generosity. I am thrilled to announce that this book is part of a series, and the second part will be available next week. I cannot wait
I stood at my window, watching Jalen and Cade entering the van and driving out and my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't believe how much I missed him and how my body reacted to him.My mum and I went shopping for the charity ball and I wasn't expecting to see Jalen, but when our eyes met, I had to force myself to grip the bannister tightly to keep from running down the stairs and into his arms. My breathing became shallow and my knees felt weak, but I managed to hold myself together and maintain a composed demeanor.Now, my mind was a jumbled mess, filled with memories of our past together and the pain of our breakup. Anger and hurt boiled inside me, but I pushed it down, knowing that I had to be strong."Calm down, Rissa," I said to myself, trying to steady my breathing, but it was a losing battle. I wasn't as strong as I thought. No wonder people went back to their toxic partners. The mating bond was so strong that if my human self didn't restrain my wolf, I'd have jumpe
My packmates were working tirelessly, sanding down the rough spots on the wooden floor of the pack's hall in preparation for the Lycan king's coronation coming up in seven days. I watched one of them up on a ladder, hanging glittering lights from the rafters and another laying down fresh coats of paint on the wallsThe hall was beautiful with a long red carpet laid, leading to the platform and the stage and the scent of flowers filled the air as a group of packmates arranged beautiful bouquets on either side of the platform.I could feel the energy and excitement from my packmates as they worked, it was palpable and it made my heart swell with pride.My mum stood rigidly beside me, her eyes shining with excitement."This is so beautiful," she nudged me and I nodded in response.She took a deep breath and said, "A king needs his queen."I rolled my eyes, feeling annoyance wash over me.She placed a hand on my arm, her grip tight. "You can't wait to marry Malory."I frowned and said, "
I lay in bed, feeling comfortable and relaxed, and felt my left breast with my hand, which was a habit that I had picked up when I was a teenager. My fingers lightly ran over the curve of my nipple, pausing at the top and I shut my eyes, remembering how Jalen used to drive me wild with his tongue on my nipple, how I would have him suckle it until I came from just being touched there, and how I would cry out into the night, my hands clutching onto his chest so tightly.I took a deep breath and lifted my feet, bringing them closer to my chest. It's not like I was happy. Far from it, but. I couldn't just mope around and be useless just because Jalen was getting married to someone else. I wish Jaela hadn't even told me, but I made a conscious effort to be happy. My family was there for me and my mom always checked on me, even going as far as canceling some of her schedules just to make sure that she was always available for me. I felt the stretch in my legs as I brought them closer to m
My days were bland and uninteresting as I felt dejected and defeated. I lost the woman I truly loved, and now I proposed to someone I have no attraction to. The thought of spending the rest of my life with someone who doesn't make my heart skip a beat was a heavy weight to bear. I leaned into the leather armchair taking a long drink from my cold bear. The icy liquid provided a temporary escape from all my troubles. It was crazy how everyone expected me to move on, be a man and do the right thing because I knocked someone up. I set the beer down on the table and let out a sigh, trying to ignore the emptiness inside of me. This wasn't the life I imagined for myself, and Malory robbed me of my chance at true love and joy."Jalen are you there," Jaela's melodic voice which by the way I could never get tired of hearing, walked in, her steps slow and hesitant."What the hell, brother," she gasped at the sight of scattered bottles of beer. I reached for a remote control absently flipping
Today sucked horribly. It started when I walked into the conference room for our daily board meeting. My mood was irritable and I couldn't seem to shake it.I took my seat at the head of the table and tried to focus on the agenda, but the more my staff presented their ideas for a new app, the more frustrated I became. Every suggestion was met with a sharp rejection from me - the layout was wrong, the logo was uninspired, and I even snapped at them for wasting my time.The IT guys were eager to discuss some updates with me, but I couldn't concentrate on what they were saying. Instead, I found myself doodling aimlessly on a notepad, tracing lines and shapes without any real purpose.Everyone there looked at me with confusion, and the tension in the room rose with every passing moment. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the headache that was growing stronger by the minute."Excuse me," I finally said, standing up from my chair. "I think we should continue this meeting later. I have a he
As I stood in the clearing surrounded by the tallest trees in the forest, I felt the weight of the moment settling onto my shoulders. This was the coronation ceremony that marked my ascension to the throne as the Lycan king. The full moon shone bright and clear above, casting an eerie glow on the gathering below. The pack elders and council were all present, their beastly forms looming large and imposing.As the pack leader, I felt a surge of pride and respect for these powerful creatures. I knew that the role of the Lycan king was a heavy responsibility, but I was ready to embrace it. I closed my eyes, savoring the sweet scent of the forest and the whispers of the night.The elders stepped forward, forming a circle around me. They began to chant, their voices rising in a low rumble that vibrated through the air. I felt the magic of the moment wash over me, and I knew that this was truly the beginning of a new chapter in my life.The chanting grew louder, reaching a crescendo as the e
The day before my departure date was a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, I was excited to get back to my company and oversee the work there, but on the other hand, I was sad to be leaving Paris, the city I had grown to love over the past month. I had been working remotely, but my presence was needed back at the office to ensure everything was running smoothly.I spent the day shopping for gifts for my family, trying to find the perfect tokens of my affection. I wanted to make sure my dad, mum, Bryon, and his wife, Sydney all got something. I browsed through multiple stores, searching for the perfect presents. Finally, I found some beautifully handcrafted souvenirs for each of them. I hoped they would appreciate them.I went back to the hotel, feeling tired but satisfied with my day's work. I started packing my stuff, trying to fit everything into my luggage. I had brought a lot of clothes and other items with me, but now it seemed like they wouldn't fit in my bags anymore.I lay in
I was in the final stretch of my stay in Paris and only had two days left. I'd spent the majority of my time here hanging out with Tony and his family. Tony was especially busy these past few days because his little sister, I made, was turning fourteen. I felt emotionally attached to Imade, so I offered to go shopping with Tony to help prepare for her birthday.We walked down the busy streets of Paris, with Tony leading the way. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, and I followed behind, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The smell of freshly baked croissants and coffee filled the air, making my mouth water.As we walked, Tony filled me in on the details of Imade's birthday party. "My mum wants to throw her a big bash, with balloons, cake, and lots of presents, just to make her happy."We finally arrived at a bustling marketplace, filled with vendors selling all sorts of things. Tony headed straight for a store selling party supplies, and I followed him inside. The