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
LILA "How did you come to know Aurora?" I inquired of Blaise; our bodies entwined in an intimate embrace. I lay with my head nestled peacefully on his chest. His arm was beneath me, cradling my form as his palm danced lightly across my shoulder, providing gentle caresses. I didn't want to tell him about anything until I was sure Erick was telling the truth. Blaise's response came with a gentle chuckle, a sound that reverberated warmly against my ear, resting against his chest. "It was quite the story. I met her through Leo," he began, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "One fateful day at one of the VAWLA conferences, she accidentally collided with his car. Poor Leo was fuming, utterly oblivious to who she was." "Who was she?" My fingers traced delicate patterns on Blaise's chest. "She was none other than the daughter of Alpha Clem from the Water Side Pack." The name 'Water Side Pack' stirred a sense of puzzlement within me. I lifted my head, seeking
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