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
BLAISE Saturday arrived swiftly, each moment making my heart race with anticipation. The wine was prepared for the market, and elites from across the globe were converging for the launch. I had bolstered security measures, anticipating any threat from Drax or rogue bandits. Every precaution had been taken to ensure tonight proceeded flawlessly, and Sasha's assurance somehow instilled confidence in me. I stepped into the room, bustling with beauticians, eager to assess their progress. This marked our first public appearance, and it was crucial that she exuded readiness, as much as I did. It should be flawless, devoid of even a hint of insincerity. Our interactions needed to be natural yet not overly affectionate, to avoid any impressions of a strained relationship. I had briefed her the previous night, doing my best to put her at ease since werewolves could easily discern emotions in others. I also provided her with responses for those prying into our private lives, aski
LILA The room sweltered when Blaise entered, and now his lips were on mine, stealing my breath away. Throughout the night, I had noticed the way he stared at me, a look in his eyes I couldn't quite decipher. The heat was oppressive, prompting me to slip into the kitchen for a glass of water and a moment to catch my breath while he was engrossed with his companions. However, Blaise followed swiftly, and now his kiss enveloped me, scattering my thoughts and leaving me powerless to resist. After a few heartbeats, he broke the kiss, his intense gaze locked onto mine, his hand tenderly cradling my cheek. I stood frozen, staring at him, my words lost in a sea of shock and confusion. "You did a splendid job tonight," he rasped, in a voice filled with emotion, stirring a longing of leaning into his arms within me. But reason swiftly returned. We weren't supposed to be intimate, and I hadn't given him permission to kiss me. "Apologise," I demanded, my voice barely audible. Confusi
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Erick carefully carried Agatha from the rooftop, steering clear of the party area to avoid raising any suspicion that might disrupt the festivities. Earlier, he had dealt with the culprits, Joey and his group of friends who had dared to harass Agatha. He had swiftly subdued them and stashed them in the restroom. If they were discovered, they would likely concoct any excuse to hide their foolishness. Certainly, they wouldn't confess to antagonising a Calloway woman at her cousin's party; their fathers wouldn't want any conflicts with Alpha Blaise Calloway. His wrath was feared by all. He guided Agatha into her room, which was adorned with an overwhelmingly girlish pink decor, almost blinding in its brightness. Agatha, still in shock, clung to him until he reassured her that she was safe. After much persuasion, she reluctantly released him, and he granted her some privacy to take a shower. Upon her return, she appeared much improved, and Erick retrieved a first aid kit
LILA "Alpha Blaise Calloway, you are under arrest for the sale of poisonous wine, which resulted in five deaths nationwide and harmed seven others who are currently receiving treatment." I stood there, utterly stunned. What on earth was happening? Five lives lost and seven more hanging in the balance? Blaise appeared just as shocked as I was, his usually impassive face etched with disbelief. However, the police officers refrained from handcuffing him. Tim instinctively moved forward, but Blaise gestured for him to stay put. "You can't take him," The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. My initial plan to humiliate Blaise had taken a backseat to the shock of the situation. My heart grew heavy, and I couldn't bear to watch Blaise being led into that police van. “You don’t have any evidence!” The cop handed me a printout. "This is a doctor's report, clearly stating that the cause of death was poisonous wine." "Still, you cannot take him," panic crept into my voi