BLAISE Lila and I arrived at the construction site in no time, and the workers paused their activities and greeted us with respectful nods as we stepped out of the car, hand in hand. The sun was high, casting a warm, golden glow over the dusty site. We made our way toward the designated shaded area made by the workers for breaks, and a sleek press car pulled up. Lila’s grip tightened ever so slightly, her lips pursing in a silent scoff. “Does she really need to be here?” Lila muttered, her gaze fixated on the unfolding scene as a man emerged from the front passenger seat, smoothly opening the door for Amanda. "She's just doing her job," I responded. Amanda had chosen a casual yet stylish summer outfit—a loose-fitting white tank top paired with dark navy high-waisted trousers. She added an air of sophistication with a pair of oversized, square-shaped black sunglasses. Spotting us, her face lit up with a radiant smile, and she waved before making her way over. I
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Amanda stood there, her eyes fixed on Blaise and his wife, a wave of disgust coursing through her as the workers eagerly pulled out their phones to capture the enchanting moment shared by their Alpha and Luna. Even the gangly reporter beside her, tasked with covering the event, couldn't help but wear a sheepish smile as he recorded the scene. "Awesome," he murmured, more to himself than to Amanda. "I've heard of Alphas and Lunas, but witnessing such genuine love between them is truly remarkable." Amanda couldn't hold back her jealousy and frustration. "Shut the fuck up!" she snapped, her voice laced with venom, her gaze piercing the couple. The reporter recoiled, a flicker of shock crossing his features. "Do they think we're here to make a romantic movie or something?" "Well, when you're in love, everything seems like a romantic movie," the man replied with that same sheepish grin. Amanda shot him a sharp look, and he quickly snapped his mouth shu
BLAISE The moment Amanda's lips met mine, I couldn't claim to be entirely taken aback, but I hadn't expected it. While I had believed Lila's claim that Amanda was merely pretending, because I doubted it was a mere coincidence that whatever health crisis Amanda had, came up when Lila and I were sharing a moment, but I chose to give her the benefit of the doubt. Gently, I pulled her away from me and noticed the desperation in her eyes. "You can't even return a kiss now?" She inquired with a hint of disappointment. I exhaled a heavy sigh. "Amanda, before I parted ways with my wife to come to your aid, I assured her of your harmlessness and good heart. It appears now that I may have been gravely mistaken." "You know deep down that I'm a good person, and I can see that somewhere in there, you still have feelings for me," she asserted, her eyes searching mine, maybe for a flicker of the past. I couldn't help but shake my head. "Amanda, I've forgotten that in high schoo
LILA I woke abruptly, a startled cry escaping my lips, and my body jerked upright in bed. Fortunately, Blaise lay beside me, instantly awakened by my distress. His strong arms enveloped me, providing a reassuring anchor as I struggled to regain my composure. My heart raced within my chest as the vivid recollections of the dream swirled through my mind. "You're safe now. It was just a dream," Blaise whispered soothingly. "Amanda," I muttered, the name tasting like acid in my mouth. "Amanda." "You dreamt about Amanda? Was she harmed in your dream?" Blaise inquired, his gaze filled with curiosity and concern. I glanced at Blaise, my breaths still coming in ragged bursts. "No, she wasn't harmed. It was me... She was killing me, stabbing me over and over without mercy." As I spoke, Blaise tightened his embrace, pulling me closer to his chest. "Don't worry; it was only a dream." I nodded, still shaken by the startling realism of the nightmare. But my anxie
LILA Blaise's body tensed as Amanda entered the room, surrounded by her crew, her infectious smile drawing applause from every corner. I glanced at Blaise, trying to decipher his reaction. There was something about Amanda's dance that seemed intentional as if she aimed to remind him of a past connection. Wow, this woman was a master of manipulation. Amanda's beauty was undeniable, and her choice of attire now made perfect sense. I hadn't anticipated her performance here, of all places. Turning my gaze away from Blaise, I struggled to keep my rising anger in check. How was she even allowed to dance here? Who had given her the permission? As my frustration simmered, my eyes unintentionally met Ace's across the room. I quickly averted my gaze, feeling trapped in a whirlpool of emotions. I didn't want to witness Amanda's dance, nor did I wish to see Blaise's reaction. But I couldn't look elsewhere either, because the presence of Ace, expectantly waiting to lock eyes with me, le
BLAISE I pulled Lila into the room, inadvertently pushing her with more force than intended, causing her to nearly lose her balance. With a swift motion, I closed the door behind us and turned to face her. "What now?" she challenged, lifting her chin defiantly. Though fear flickered in her eyes, I knew Lila was never one to shy away from confrontation. "Are you planning to hit me as well? You were the one who proposed an open marriage, Bla—" "He's my fucking brother, Lila," I interjected, frustration evident in my voice. How could she even bring that up now? "Do you understand how that looks? You get jealous at the slightest hint of another woman glancing my way, yet you expect me to remain composed when I catch you kissing my own flesh and blood? What if it had been someone else who stumbled upon you? Is that why you abruptly left the party? Tell me." "You're free to think whatever you want," she retorted sharply, making a move to depart. I had never in
BLAISE "What in the world is happening!" I exclaimed, frustration lacing my words as the call abruptly ended. Lila's violent bout of vomiting blood had subsided, but her complexion had turned ghostly pale. It was clear that without immediate intervention, she wouldn't make it. It almost felt as though some unseen force was conspiring against her survival. Richard, who had been absent from the festival due to an emergency surgery, had initially seemed like our saving grace when I reached him, and he said he was just finishing from surgery. However, his journey to the pack house was marred by a sudden tire blowout, delaying his arrival. As I scanned my surroundings, I realized that all my own tires were mysteriously flat, except for one vehicle that happened to be out of fuel. Something was terribly amiss. Without hesitation, I instructed Richard to return to the clinic. Cradling Lila in my arms, I sprinted all the way towards the pack clinic, but Richard was nowhere to be
BLAISE Ace and I tumbled across the grass until we finally halted, pressed against the rugged base of a massive rock. Naturally, I knew that in a fair fight, I could easily overpower Ace I could beat him to a stupor. After all, he was merely human, while I was a werewolf—stronger and larger. However, I believed I deserved this punishment, so I allowed him to land his punches. I suppressed the urge of Jasper, my inner wolf, to defend me as Ace's fists rained down on me, causing blood to flow from my nostrils and mouth. His fury had blinded him to reason. I didn't care about the pain. At this point, death seemed like a preferable option, for I no longer felt any worth in my continued existence. It almost felt comforting that there was no one around to rescue me from Ace's wrath. "I knew you never truly loved her," Ace shouted in anger, his accusation sharp and bitter. I managed a grim smile despite the blows. "My dear brother, I'm proud to see how you've grown in str