BLAISE In the muted light of dawn, I awoke, disoriented, on the cold floor in front of my bedroom door. Memories of the previous night flooded through my mind, each one a sharp reminder of my foolishness. Lila had banished me from our room, a justified measure for my inexcusable action of striking her in a moment of unbridled anger. Despite my relentless apologies since last night, a chasm of guilt and regret yawned within me. I couldn't shake off the remorse for having let my rage overwhelm me. It was her accusations of my infidelity with Amanda, and of slanderous gossip that had ignited my fury, leading to that unforgivable slap. But even as I regretted my actions, a nagging suspicion about her knowledge of Erick's master lingered in my thoughts. I would apologize for striking her, but I wouldn't let that matter rest. Running my fingers through my dishevelled hair, I reached for the door handle, bracing myself for another round of apologies. To my astonishment, the
LILA "You should wear a smile on that face, Lila. There are cameras everywhere, and we wouldn't want anyone suspecting that things aren't going well between us. Remember our agreement in the contract?" Blaise whispered in my ear as we took our seats, Amanda having just left our table. Fury simmered within me, but I managed to force a smile and turned to face him. I saw his own smile unfold, but I could see the falseness in his eyes. To any onlooker, we appeared to be a loving couple. "I can certainly pretend everything's fine if you stop behaving like a complete jerk," I hissed, my teeth gritted in suppressed fury. "I'm not as dumb as you seem to think, my dear husband. I do know what the contract stipulates." I reached out and rubbed his arm, underlining the sarcasm in my tone. His smile remained, but there was a fiery intensity in his gaze. I knew he wouldn't dare do anything in front of these people, so I felt emboldened to push his buttons further. " Stop bei
LILA Blaise and I maintained a stony silence for the rest of the conference. The silent tension lingered in the air like a thick fog even as we left the conference. He decided to drive the car himself on our way back, leaving me seething with irritation over his encounter with Amanda. The urge to confront him about their meeting gnawed at me, but his stern countenance and an unwavering grip on the steering wheel held me back. My only recourse was to shoot him venomous glances. "Why are you staring at me? Do you have something you want to tell me?" he finally broke the silence, not sparing me a glance. I couldn't help but release a bitter chuckle. "Oh, it's nothing, Blaise. Just admiring how effortlessly you can mingle with old flames while leaving your loving wife to fend for herself," I quipped, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Amanda must have been thrilled to have you all to herself at the conference." Blaise's jaw clenched even tighter, but he kept his eyes on the r
BLAISE "You did what?" Richard asked, his voice filled with shock as he gazed at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. I gulped down another drink, the harsh liquid burning my throat, and remained silent, my gaze fixed on the amber depths of the bottle. The bar's dim lights cast long shadows, reflecting my turmoil. I was feeling worse than I had ever felt in my entire life. "Let me get this straight," Richard said, leaning in. "You struck her the other night simply because you suspected her? Then you roughed her up today?" "What else was I supposed to do?" I snapped back, refilling my glass with a shaky hand. My voice was tinged with anger and regret. "I was livid." Another swallow of the fiery drink. "And bitterly disappointed that she was aware of it all." "She only learned about it the day you caught Erick, and to be fair, she hadn't seen you for two days and couldn't reach you. How could you know if she intended to tell you or not?" Richard's tone was accus
NOTE: Sasha and Lykaina are the same person. Lykaina is her immortal name. AUTHOR'S P.O.V. "Lykaina should restrain her hound. I still don't understand why my ward doesn't have her wolf yet," Seraphina said through clenched teeth, frustration etched on her face. "You keep letting him get away with everything." She paced back and forth in front of the moon goddess and another male figure seated in the corner. The moon goddess simply smiled. "I'm not letting him get away with anything. They are a married couple, and they're allowed to have their share of problems." "Problems? Problems that involve violence? Did you witness how he treated her yesterday? How can they still be mates after that? Surely, there are kinder men who would treat her with the respect she deserves." "Like his brother?" the male seated in the corner chimed in, speaking for the first time. Seraphina shot him an icy glare. "Stay out of this, Lykos." "How can I when you intend to give my war
LILA The true threat here isn't Markus but the Ghost. You must uncover his identity... Erick's ominous words echoed relentlessly in my mind. Those haunting syllables reverberated throughout my day, and when night draped itself across the sky, sleep remained a distant elusion. Nestled under the blankets, I lay awake, my gaze fixed on the blankness of the ceiling. My thoughts whirled in a stormy dance, pondering the unfolding events until the early hours of morning, when slumber finally overtook me. Awakened by the distant hum of a car, I blinked into a world bathed in the vibrant shades of morning. The sun, a radiant orb, cast its golden glow through the window, and I glanced at the clock, realising it was almost noon. My eyes drifted to the empty space beside me on the bed, a pang of longing twisting in my chest. Blaise's absence left a cold void; his warmth was a memory now tinged with melancholy. But despite my yearning, I think neither of us wanted to be in each ot
BLAISE The office air was tense as I slammed a stack of photographs onto my desk with a thud. They were compromising images of Amanda and me, tangled in kisses and intimate embraces. Confusion clouded my mind—I couldn't recall any moment where Amanda and I had been so entwined. A wave of regret washed over me; I should have seen through her façade, a ploy to disarm and ensnare me. Leo, standing across from me, maintained a stoic silence before breaking it with a question that echoed my own dread. “So, what’s your plan for these pictures, Blaise? And the article that’s threatening to go public?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. I massaged my temples. The threats seemed to multiply by the day, pushing me ever closer to the edge. "I'm not sure, Leo," I admitted, my voice weary. "The person behind this won't stop here. They'll bleed me dry if I don't act." Leo shifted uncomfortably; his gaze locked on the photographs. “And what about Luna Lila? The article claim
LILA Several hours after my explosive outburst, I found refuge in a dimly lit bar, my identity concealed beneath a shroud of a scarf and dark shades. I had regained my composure, sitting in solitude, my fingers dancing over my phone, engrossed in the compromising photos that had arrived via an anonymous sender. With each passing moment, the truth etched itself deeper into my consciousness. Though my instinct screamed for Blaise to shoulder the blame, the images revealed unsettling loopholes. I zoomed in on a photo, the one capturing a moment between Amanda and Blaise. Their lips locked in what seemed like a forbidden kiss. Yet, as I delved deeper, the truth unfolded. Blaise's hands rested not possessively but, on her shoulders— a silent but forceful attempt to push her away. Another picture drew my attention. Amanda, scantily clad, positioned atop Blaise in a compromising embrace. But as I magnified the image, details emerged from the blur. Despite the blurry image upon zo