AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Drax lay naked on the king-size bed. The aromatic layers of hashish smoke were suspended in the still air and a bottle of vodka, and three glasses sat on the bedside table. Three women lay naked with him. He moaned and whipped his head back as his whores did their work. One of the women, an auburn-haired girl, revolved her breast around his moaning, moving face, one was sucking on his nipple, while the other one kneaded his erection. Drax was experiencing sexual ecstasy when the telephone jarred loudly, interrupting them. The auburn-haired reached out to retrieve the phone. Quickly, he brought it to his ear, a hint of irritation tainting his otherwise serene expression. "What is it?" he croaked; his patience tested by the unexpected intrusion. After a brief pause, he sat up with a sudden jolt, causing the young woman sprawled across his lap to tumble away. "Bring it to me," he ordered. A scant few minutes later, he stood naked before a mirror, an envelope f
LILA The setting sun cast a warm, golden hue across the landscape as I washed my hands and legs, savouring the soft, cleansing touch of water. I had changed into the outfit I had arrived in, eager to return to the mansion. While I deftly tied my hair, a sudden clearing of the throat interrupted my thoughts. Startled, I turned around to find Ace, once again, leaning casually against the pillar of the shade, his hands comfortably nestled in his pockets. Ignoring his unsolicited presence, I reached for my purse to leave, but his smooth voice halted me. "You have a unique way of welcoming people," he observed, his tone casual yet intriguing. I pivoted to face him; my curiosity piqued. "Do you make a habit of stalking people and startling them?" Ace's brows furrowed slightly, and he shrugged with nonchalance. "I wasn't stalking anyone. I was merely enjoying the air on my own property." "By eavesdropping on my conversation," I retorted, my eyes narrowing. He sighed
BLAISE I rose from my chair and stretched my arms, offering my knotted muscles a delicious break. Work had become more demanding, but at least this time, I didn't have anyone badgering me about setting work as my top priority over family. That had always been the issue between Aurora and me. I reached for my phone to check my messages. It perpetually stayed on "Do Not Disturb" when I was working. I didn't rely on it for communication anyway; I could telepathically connect with anyone from our pack to get things done. Unlocking the phone, I was greeted by a barrage of messages from Lila. I clicked on the notification and “Fuck you” in bold letters stared back at me. A small laugh escaped my lips as I stared at her evidently frustrated texts. "She's truly something," I muttered, massaging a throbbing spot on my neck, and adjusting it to alleviate the discomfort. I had resolved to sleep in my bedroom tonight, regardless of Lila's presence. I only need to put a cork on
BLAISE I awoke, entangled in the sheets, with sunlight streaming through the window and the melodious morning chorus of birds outside. Lila was absent from the bed, but the sound of water splattering in the bathroom suggested her location. Eager to catch up with Ace, my younger brother, who had arrived unexpectedly like a thief on a rampage two nights ago, I extricated myself from the sheets and stretched. We'd had scant time for meaningful interaction since his arrival. I was eager to catch up and hear about his business ventures in Italy. Slipping into my plush slippers, I made my way out of our bedroom. Upon reaching his room, I found Ace impeccably dressed and groomed—a surprising sight, given his typical aversion to mornings. "Hey, brother!" he greeted exuberantly, his grin filled with roguish charm. "Hey, man. You look…" I struggled to find the words to describe his morning glow. "Radiant." We hugged each other. Growing up, Ace had been a
BLAISE I slammed the file shut, frustration building within me like a storm about to break. I leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes in an attempt to calm the turmoil inside. However, images of Lila slipping into Ace's car haunted me. A bitter taste coiled at the back of my tongue. Ace was fully aware she was my wife, wasn’t he? It seemed like it was high time for a proper introduction. With a deep, resigned sigh, I reopened the file. "Whatever, I don't care," I muttered under my breath, lying to the uncaring silence of the room, my eyes fixated on the printout before me as though it could offer some distraction, but the words blurred. "Well, maybe I do care. She shouldn't be getting entangled with my own flesh and blood." Outside, the sky grumbled as if in agreement. I rose from my chair, walking over to the window behind me. Dark clouds were gathering ominously, and a storm loomed on the horizon, promising rain—rain that Lila feared. I shook my head. I don’t care.
LILA Dawn's early light crept through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow on Blaise's solemn figure. Fully dressed, he sat in the unwavering quiet, the cold metallic sheen of a handgun nestled in his hands. Panic surged through me, and I scrambled up in bed, scooting away. "What on earth are you doing?" My voice, usually steady, now faltered, betraying a flow of fears, as my thought raced. Had he finally decided to end my life? The very thought chilled my bones. I didn't want to die, not after witnessing the hope I had brought back to our people. Did my actions cast him in a negative light? Should I apologise? Blaise remained silent, inspecting the gun in his hands as if assessing its authenticity, paying no attention to my distress. An apology formed on my lips. "Blaise, please understand. I know I haven't been the best wife or partner." My voice was a whisper of vulnerability. "I should have discussed it with you beforehand, but it was a last-minute decision. Trust me, I
LILA Sasha and I sprinted until my breath threatened to abandon me. As we reached a bustling area, I slowed down and plopped onto the sidewalk, tugging Sasha to a halt beside me. "Please, stop, stop," I panted, "I feel like I might faint." Sasha squatted in front of me, exhaling audibly. "We didn't run that far, and you're panting like a deer." I shot her a reproachful look. "Don't forget I'm human with limited stamina." Playfully, I swatted her arm. "You nearly got me into trouble." Her lips curled into a mischievous smile. “But admit it, it was so much fun." She joined me on the pavement, and I couldn't help but agree. I wasn't familiar with this clan, but it clearly surpassed both my own and the vineyard farmers' clans in sophistication. Crescent Hill Pack was undeniably vast, with Blaise's clan reigning as the largest and the pack's capital. Sasha asked, "Can I make it up to you?" I hesitated. "No. I need—" Then, the realisation hit me. I owned a car; we had used it to get
LILA It had been three days since Agatha, and I embarked on the journey of learning how to handle a firearm. Despite my efforts, hitting a target remained an elusive goal, while Agatha's skills improved steadily. The sheer intensity of the gun's thunderous discharge frightened me. Blaise and I hadn't exchanged a single word since that fateful night when he tended to my injuries. Often, he was absent when I awoke, only returning under the cloak of night. He was conspicuously absent from the dining room as well. My only company for meals was Ace. He even supervised our training sessions and never missed an opportunity to offer light-hearted jibes at my lacklustre marksmanship. Warriors and our bodyguards stood by, observing our attempts to hit the targets. "You'll only hit your mark when you're at ease with your weapon," Ace said, stepping in front of us and signalling for us to lower our firearms. A mischievous grin played on his lips as he addressed me, "But how can you hit a target