LILA Blaise hurriedly caught up with me, blocking my path and holding my ruined heels in his hand. "What was the stunt you just pulled back there?" he inquired. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "One of your many mistresses decided to disrespect me, and you're here questioning my actions?" Tim emerged from the mall, carefully passing around us with silent grace, choosing to steer clear of his master's personal drama. He made his way to the car and waited, wise enough not to meddle in his master's affairs. "So much for the so-called mutual respect," I continued. "If you want me to respect you in public, the least you could do is not allow other women to demean me in your presence." Blaise sighed, trying to defend his stance. "I was addressing her when you chose to take matters into your own hands." "Which is the best way! She should know her place," I fired back. To my astonishment, a broad grin spread across Blaise's face. I eyed him suspiciously, confused by
BLAISE It was getting extremely difficult to restrain what I feel for Lila anymore. She was a woman with purpose and her stubborn annoying nature only added to her allure. She was the kind that makes something out of what little you give her, and those qualities had drawn me to her the most. She was also mysterious, like a ball of onion that you could peel layer by layer. With any other person, I would have known if she wanted my downfall or if she was with me, but with Lila, it felt difficult. That same way I felt when I first met her. For several days, I had resorted to giving her the cold shoulder treatment, fearing that my burgeoning emotions and the mysterious mate bond would cloud my judgment. Jasper continually assured me that she is my true mate, and would never wish harm upon us, yet I harboured doubts. Being merely human, Lila might not experience the mate bond as intensely as I did and would not hold back the way I did. I could only make her fall for me if I hoped
Dear Gentle readers, I want to thank you all, first, for your support and dedication. It is with a heavy heart that I write this. I have been sick for a while now, hence the slow updates. I will be going for surgery at the end of this month and will take a month's break from the first of August to recover fully. I will not do a daily update, but I will try as much as I can to complete my other book. I hope you understand and bear with me, please. Thank you for your understanding and I hope you keep enjoying my stories.
LILA "So, are you telling me that woman has returned?" Sasha asked, placing a delicate flower into a slender vase. The moon festival was upon us, a time when each room in the house would be adorned with vibrant flowers or painted in the festival's radiant colours. We busied ourselves decorating the rooms for the Moon Festival. I took pride in my knack for decoration. Memories of past festivals danced in my mind, where I, single-handedly, had transformed our home into a festive wonderland while Nana watched with a smile, so, I didn't require the assistance of servants for this task. My hands and heart knew each corner of our chamber, every nook that needed a touch of beauty. Since last night, Blaise and I hadn't exchanged a word. He had returned late, long after I had succumbed to sleep's embrace, and he chose not to share the bedroom. This morning, too, he left early, robbing me of any opportunity for conversation. Now, as dusk painted the sky in shades of orange
LILA Sasha gracefully carried two more bottles of Mrs Me wine to the balcony and extended a glass towards me. As she poured the crimson liquid into my glass, she filled her own with equal elegance. "To a brighter future," she toasted, lifting her glass. "To a brighter future," I echoed, clinking my glass against hers. Sasha's body swayed to the lively beat of a Latino song, which she claimed as her favourite. I leaned against the balcony railing, sipping my wine while nodding to the infectious rhythm. Sasha, on the other hand, was the embodiment of enthusiasm, dancing with unrestrained energy. Her dance moves, though entertaining, were as off-key as her singing. Suppressing a laugh, I watched her with amusement, not wanting to hurt her feelings. Although I have a feeling that nothing could dampen Sasha's spirits. She even took the wine bottle as a makeshift microphone, belting out the lyrics as she danced. Before long, I found myself bursting into laughter,
LILA I mustered the courage to venture out of the guest room in the evening. I had waited until I was certain Blaise had left the pack house, and I began to feel somewhat better. My breakfast and lunch had been consumed in that guest room as I contemplated how to avoid Blaise forever and ever. As time passed, the regret for my foolish actions from the previous night only grew more vivid. Stepping into our shared room, I found no trace of Blaise. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, and I allowed myself to sink onto the bed. My plan was to swiftly take a bath, change into fresh clothes, and crawl back to my sanctuary. However, my moment of respite was short-lived as the room's door swung open with force, and there stood Blaise. Startled, I leapt from the bed, letting out a scream. "You scared me!" I exclaimed He offered a mischievous smile and proceeded to lock the door. My shock deepened as he advanced toward me, causing my heart to race. I silently pleaded for the ground
LILA The dinner table was not only occupied by Amanda and Blaise as I had expected, but it also hosted a gathering of others, including Leo, Agatha, Sasha, Ace, and Dr. Richard. I stifled a sigh as they all rose from their seats, offering me polite bows, and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I realized that the evening had just taken a turn for the worse. Blaise, being the gentleman, stood up and extended his hand to me, guiding me to a seat situated between him and Ace. Only after we were settled did the others take their seats. However, I was not comfortable sitting beside Ace. Amanda was a journalist on the prowl for a story and possibly seeking to rekindle her connection with Blaise. She would undoubtedly be quick to spot any unusual tension between Ace and me and spin it into a scandalous, sensational story. I tried to maintain an air of normalcy by offering Ace a gentle smile. "Shall we begin, everyone?" Blaise chimed in, trying to infuse enthusiasm into t
BLAISE Lila never ceases to amaze me with her actions. I now had no doubt that she was destined to be my mate. The moon goddess had woven our fates together for a reason. She was fiery yet undeniably cute. I had restrained myself for far too long, haunted by the memory of my love for Aurora and the fact that Lila was the sister of the man who had taken her life. But the mate bond and the ancient prophecy had played huge roles in binding us, making it impossible to resist any longer. Now, Lila had become the air I longed to breathe. Contrary to my fears that she would always remind me of the painful death of my late Luna, but instead being around Lila brought me peace and contentment. I came to realize that it was time for me to forgive and let go of my thirst for revenge for my late Luna's sake. This was what the moon goddess desires, if not, she wouldn't have chosen Lila as my mate. All I needed was to focus on uncovering the traitor among my subjects. I was certain it wa
BLAISE I burst into the dimly lit room where Richard was tied up around a chair. I had not physically tormented him, but he looked exhausted. I couldn't help but wonder if it was the weight of guilt that had drained him so. It was incomprehensible that Richard, of all people, would become entangled in the web of those seeking to bring about my downfall. But I heeded Lila's counsel and resolved to approach this encounter with the grace of composure and hear him out. I gestured for a chair and signalled the guards to leave us alone. "Keep vigilant watch over Mrs. Pierce and her son," I instructed them, to which they replied in unified affirmation. My focus returned to Richard, who had steadfastly avoided meeting my gaze. Delicately, I retrieved my penknife, its blade shimmering menacingly as I flicked it open. "Listen closely, Richard. I'm giving you a final opportunity for redemption. Should you withhold what I seek, I shall not hesitate to strip your very skin from your
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Dr Richard concealed himself beneath the inky depths of a black hoodie and robe, his movements quick as he vacated the hotel room. He stood still at the garage, his ears straining for even the faintest of sounds, but all remained eerily silent. His eyes darted thoroughly surveying his surroundings, but no discernible presence lurked nearby. Satisfied, he slipped into his car, ignited the engine, and eased out of the hotel's garage. Meanwhile, within a dimly lit room, two men hunched before their computer screens, their eyes tracking Dr. Richard's car as it exited from the garage. One of them, with a finger pressed to an earpiece, relayed a terse message. "He is on the move." Dr Richard accelerated, his foot heavy on the gas pedal, as the monotonous road stretched endlessly before him, bereft of other vehicles. The moon had chosen to withhold its luminous presence that night, yet his headlights carved a luminous path through the obscurity. An ho
BLAISE In a frenzy, I scoured my office, turning over papers and rifling through drawers in a desperate search for my signet ring. Its absence was a growing concern – the documents I had just approved were sitting on my desk, demanding the ring's unique imprint. The deadline was near; they needed to be submitted by tomorrow morning. Finding nothing, I ventured into our bedroom, combing through every corner with equal fervour. Yet, the ring remained elusive. I stood, defeated, in the middle of the room, eyes closed, straining my memory for the last time I had used it. But my thoughts were a tangled mess, muddled by the whirlwind of recent events. Lila's sudden interest in Aurora's family had left me puzzled. I had secretly set a trap for Drax, a plan I had shared with no one, not even Lila. The recent revelation about Hart potentially being the elusive 'Ghost'. further fuelled my frustration. Why would he target me? I bore no responsibility for his sister's tragic death, and
AUTHOR'S P.OV. In the stillness of the night, Amanda's sleep was abruptly interrupted by the insistent buzzing of her phone. Groggily lifting her head, she glanced at the glowing screen with an annoyed sigh, deciding to ignore the call and nestling back into her pillow. "I would answer if I were you," a deep, male voice resonated through the room. At first, the intrusion didn't fully register in Amanda's sleep-fogged brain, her drowsy state clouded her comprehension. She groaned, turning over to bury her face in her pillow, her desire for rest overpowering her curiosity. Then, the startling reality hit her like a cold wave: she was supposed to be alone. Her eyes flew open, her brow furrowing in confusion and fear. A man had spoken to her within the sanctuary of her bedroom. Panic surged through her, and she abruptly sat up in bed, reaching for the bedside lamp. In its soft glow, a figure materialized, concealed within dark robes and a hood that veiled their ident
LILA Blaise stormed into our room. "You keep giving me reasons not to trust you!" he barked, his voice echoing with a mixture of anger and betrayal. I followed Blaise into the room. We had just returned from the hospital where Tim was admitted. He was unconscious and in a bad shape, but he was still alive, which was a glimmer hope for me. "I'm sorry, Blaise, but—" "But what?" He spun around, his gaze piercing into mine. The muscles in his jaw twitched in barely contained frustration. "You made me promise to tell you everything going on, but you went ahead to do this on your own." His fingers raked through his hair, a gesture of sheer exasperation. He turned away momentarily, as if gathering his thoughts, then faced me again. His voice softened, tinged with worry, yet the undercurrent of irritation was unmistakable. "Lila, what if you were in that car? What if this tragedy had struck while you were returning from the Autumn Pack?" "I'm sorry." My words were a
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Tim, dressed in the shadows with his all-black attire, stealthily navigated through the dense underbrush, determined not to alert the ever-watchful Mrs. Green. Fortunately, the moon had chosen to hide its luminous face that night, shrouding him in obscurity. His silent footsteps led him closer to the backyard of the house, which lay veiled in profound darkness, with only a faint glimmer from a lantern casting feeble light into the hallway. With deft carefulness, Tim picked the lock of the kitchen door, and within moments, the door yielded to his skilled touch. As he entered, he closed the door with painstaking care, but it let out a faint, protesting creak. A sudden crack from within the house prompted him to hide himself, holding his breath. Moments later, Mrs. Green emerged, gripping a shotgun, and sweeping it vigilantly from one corner of the house to the next. Tim knew that her senses were keen, and she could recognise his scent in an instant. Drawing
LILA As Tim drove me home in the dimming twilight, my mind swirled with thoughts of my earlier discussion with Mrs. Green. She had been evasive with her words, and it was evident that she possessed knowledge she wasn't willing to divulge. The only way I saw forward was using illegal means to obtain information, so, I contemplated enlisting Tim's help to infiltrate her abode, scouring for hidden secrets, while I confronted Dr. Richard regarding his involvement with Hart, who was from a pack two hours away from his own. "Tim," I began, my voice firm yet tinged with apprehension, "I need you to visit Mrs. Green's apartment tomorrow, discreetly, when she's absent. Search diligently for any trace of evidence—photographs, letters, tapes, whatever you can find." "Roger that, Luna," Tim acknowledged with determination, stepping down on the accelerator. Upon reaching home, I was greeted by Blaise, who was on the porch, waiting. His slung arm and sombre countenance hinted at
LILA The following day found me once more standing before Mrs. Green's doorstep, this time alone and imploring. Tim, my bodyguard, was not with me today. I thought that perhaps presenting myself alone would engender a greater sense of comfort and empathy from the woman. "Hello, Mrs. Green," I greeted, infusing my voice with a touch of desperation and plea. "Could you spare a moment to listen to me?" As she remained silent and motionless, I decided to appeal to her conscience. "Mrs Green, please understand that I'm a mother, and I've been separated from my two-year-old since yesterday. If you could kindly grant me access to complete my job and return to my waiting child, I would be immensely grateful. I cannot leave until the task is done—." Before I could complete my plea, the door swung open abruptly, revealing Mrs. Green's stern countenance. I met her gaze, silently pleading for entry. She scanned her surroundings before stepping aside, permitting me to enter. Initially
LILA Blaise had received strict instructions from Dr. Richard to rest until he fully recovered. However, I knew Blaise all too well to believe he would heed that advice. He was keen on dealing with his enemies and so was I to unmask them. Following a thorough sweep of the entire packhouse, we discovered concealed listening devices in both Blaise's study and the room he had allocated to me. Leo proposed that these bugs might have been the tools intruders employed to siphon information from the pack. Yet, I harboured doubts. I sensed that the truth lay beneath the surface, and I prayed that my solitary quest to unmask the mysterious 'Ghost' wouldn't lead me astray. My only wish was that my plan would unfold seamlessly. With unwavering determination, I informed Blaise that I intended to visit Randolph and Teresa at the vineyard. In truth, I had a different destination in mind. My true objective was the Water Side neighbouring pack, where I aimed to meet with a woman known to Teres