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Bouquet Of Deception 46
4646RileyI closed the door behind me, pressing my back against it as I let out a slow, shaky breath.My chest felt tight, my head was pounding, and everything inside me was telling me to shut down—to stop thinking, to stop feeling. But how could I, when Ethan had looked at me like that?Like I was breaking his heart without even trying.I raked a hand through my hair, moving toward the bed and sitting on the edge. My elbows rested on my knees as I stared down at the floor, my mind an absolute mess.This was why I never let things get complicated.This was why I had rules.And yet, here I was, tangled in something I never meant to start.And fuck, it wasn’t just about feelings anymore. It was about the truth—my truth.I wanted to tell him. Every time we got close like this, every time his eyes softened and his voice dropped like he actually cared, the words clawed at my throat.I’m a werewolf.Three words. They shouldn’t be so fucking hard to say.But they were.Because once I said
Last Updated : 2025-03-17Bouquet Of Deception 47
47EthanI stood there, still holding Riley’s hand, feeling the weight of his words settle between us. He wasn’t pushing me away—not really. He was scared. And for the first time, he actually admitted it.That had to count for something.I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “So… what now?”Riley let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Hell if I know.”I studied him—his shoulders were tense, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all.“Did you get any rest last night?” I asked.He scoffed. “What do you think?”“I think you look like you’ve been hit by a truck.”“Wow,” he deadpanned. “Thanks, Ethan. Always a confidence booster.”I smirked. “Just saying, you should eat something. And sleep. Maybe in that order.”He rolled his eyes. “You sound like my mom.”“Your mom’s got the right idea.”“She also thinks lavender oil can cure anxiety.”“Okay, so maybe not all her ideas.”He snorted, shaking his head, but he didn’t argue. That was a small victory.Sile
Last Updated : 2025-03-18Bouquet Of Deception 48
48RileyI stood frozen in Ethan’s doorway, my lips still tingling from the kiss. My heartbeat was a frantic mess, my thoughts even worse. I hadn’t planned on this. Hadn’t planned on any of this.But the way he looked at me, the way his fingers curled around my wrist like he wasn’t ready to let go—I almost told him everything.I wanted to.But fear kept my mouth shut.If he knew the truth, he’d see me differently. Worse—he’d be in danger.So I swallowed it down, plastering on the best smirk I could manage. “Well… that was unexpected.”Ethan huffed a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. It was.”Silence settled between us, thick with everything we weren’t saying.I shifted my weight. “I should—”“Yeah.”I bent down to grab my bag, my fingers tightening around the strap. Ethan didn’t move, but I could feel his eyes on me. I knew if I looked at him, if I let myself hesitate even a second longer, I’d lose whatever resolve I had left.So I didn’t. I pulled the bag over my shoulder a
Last Updated : 2025-03-19Bouquet Of Deception 49
49EthanI passed my Sunday alone. I was already used to Riley’s presence in my place, his quiet remarks, the way he always left his coffee cup in the same spot on the counter. But now… nothing.Ava was working a late shift at the bar and wouldn’t be back until morning, leaving me completely on my own. At first, I told myself I didn’t mind. I played some music, watched some TV, even attempted to read a book—but the silence pressed in, making the walls feel too close.Every now and then, my gaze drifted toward the door. Riley’s apartment was just next door. I hadn’t heard a single sound from there all night.Something wasn’t right.I hesitated, then shook my head. He probably just needed space. He had been acting strange earlier—distracted, tense. Maybe he was dealing with something, and I was just being paranoid.But the thought nagged at me, refusing to go away.By the time midnight rolled around, I’d lost the argument with myself. I got up, ran a hand through my hair, and walked out
Last Updated : 2025-03-20Bouquet Of Deception 50
50 Ethan The phone felt heavier in my hand than it should have. I stared at the screen, waiting for those three dots to reappear—but they didn’t. Just an empty screen, mocking me.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Something gnawed at my gut, a tension that refused to fade. I told myself I was overthinking. Maybe he changed his mind about replying. Maybe he just set his phone down.Or maybe—I shook my head. No. I needed to stop.I exhaled sharply, pushing off the counter. The weight in my chest didn’t ease as I moved toward the bathroom, turning the faucet on. Cold water hit my palms, but it did nothing to clear the unease clinging to me like a second skin.I scrubbed a hand over my face and met my reflection in the mirror. My jaw was tight, brows drawn together, eyes shadowed from a night of barely sleeping. I looked like someone barely holding it together.Damn it, Riley.I turned away, showered quickly, and dressed in the first clothes I could find—a plain black tee and jeans. My
Last Updated : 2025-03-20Bouquet Of Deception 51
51 EthanMy stomach dropped the moment I saw him. Liam.He stood there, leaning against my car, arms crossed over his chest, his expression thunderous. The sight of him sent a jolt of unease through me. My first instinct? Turn the hell around. Pretend I hadn’t seen him.But before I could even pivot—“Ethan.”Damn it.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stop. Slowly, I turned to face him, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. “Liam,” I greeted stiffly. “What are you doing here?”He let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s funny. I was about to ask you the same thing.”My brows furrowed. “What?”Liam pushed off my car, taking a step closer. His blue eyes—once warm, once something I could lose myself in—were now cold and burning with something unreadable. Anger? Resentment? I couldn’t tell. Maybe all of the above.“You know exactly what,” he said sharply. “Don’t play dumb with me, Ethan.”I exhaled slowly, already exhausted. “Look, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’v
Last Updated : 2025-03-21Bouquet Of Deception 52
52EthanI clenched my fists as Liam tightened his grip on my arm, his blue eyes flashing with fury. “Because of you,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous, “Owen has trust issues now. You ruined everything.”I stared at him in disbelief before letting out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Are you serious? You tried to win me back at your own wedding, Liam. That was all you. And now you have the audacity to blame me for your mess?” I wrenched my arm free, rubbing the spot where his fingers had pressed into my skin. “That’s so fucking disgusting.”His nostrils flared, but I wasn’t done. “First, it was your messages. Now this? Stop harassing me, Liam. I mean it. If you don’t, I’ll file a complaint.”Instead of looking remotely apologetic, Liam laughed—a low, cruel sound that sent a chill down my spine. His expression twisted into something mocking, filled with venom. “A complaint?” He smirked. “You really are pathetic, Ethan. Always playing the victim. You know what? I was only ever with you
Last Updated : 2025-03-22Bouquet Of Deception 53
53RileyI should’ve known Ethan wouldn’t just let it go.The second I saw his message—You up?—I hesitated. I wanted to respond, tell him I was fine, make up some excuse about being busy. But my fingers hovered over the keyboard too long, my thoughts too tangled to form a lie that would hold up.Three dots. Then nothing.Damn it.I should’ve answered. Should’ve said something to keep him from worrying. Because knowing Ethan, this wasn’t over.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. My body was still on high alert, every muscle tense from last night. Zane had pushed me, tested me, made it clear that my time was up. He wanted me to come back.And if I didn’t—My gaze flicked toward the window, toward the faint claw mark on the frame. A reminder. A warning.Zane had never been patient. He wasn’t going to wait much longer.A knock at the door made me flinch.I went still, my pulse jumping.Too early for anyone else. Too deliberate to be a neighbor.Ethan.I closed my eyes, took a s
Last Updated : 2025-03-22
Latest chapter
Bouquet Of Deception 98
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Bouquet Of Deception 96
Ron coughed, blood spattering the wooden floor as Dylan Grenville pressed him hard against the tavern wall. His suit was torn, face swollen from the hits, and the cold steel of Dylan’s gaze was more suffocating than the grip around his collar.“You’re making a mistake,” Ron rasped, spitting blood to the side. “You think I’m the end of the line? You’ve just made an enemy you can’t handle. My boss—he’s Goliath. You hear me? Goliath. The man who eats corpses for breakfast.”That name echoed like a thunderclap.Chairs scraped.A drunk at the bar nearly dropped his mug. “Did… did he say Goliath?”A bald man near the hearth froze mid-laugh. “No damn way. You mean that Goliath?”From the shadows, someone muttered, “The one who blew up an entire casino over a poker insult?”The barmaid behind the counter dropped a glass, shards scattering. “I heard he skinned a man just for calling him ‘big guy.’”A grizzled patron in a tattered coat leaned over his shot. “Burned down three blocks just ‘cause
Bouquet Of Deception 95
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Bouquet Of Deception 94
Chapter 76RileySpeedy had never been quiet before.My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done.You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault.It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there.Pounding against my skull.Reminding me.And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong.Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together.But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it worse.I’
Bouquet Of Deception 93
Chapter One: The InvitationEthan's POVI didn’t expect much when I opened the mail that morning. Bills, maybe a flyer for a local pizza joint, or yet another notice from my landlord about “building improvements” that never actually happened. But when I saw HIS name on the envelope, my breath caught. Liam Carter. My ex-boyfriend. With shaky hands, I ripped it open, and there it was—a wedding invitation, embossed in gold foil and scented with some absurdly expensive cologne he used to wear. My eyes skimmed the elegant calligraphy, but the words blurred as my mind raced. Liam Carter and Owen Taylor request the pleasure of your company at their wedding.Three months. Three measly months since we broke up after a three-year relationship, and he was already tying the knot? My stomach churned, bile rising at the thought. My first reaction was disbelief. Then rage. How long had he been planning this? How long had Owen been in the picture? Was it even possible to fall in love and plan
Bouquet Of Deception 92
Chapter 7: Memories in FocusRiley’s POVI parked my beaten-down car in the lot outside the studio, killing the engine with a sigh of relief. The sun had risen fully now, the sky painted in soft shades of gold and blue. It was one of those perfect mornings—too perfect for the dark thoughts still lingering at the edge of my mind.“Focus, Riley,” I muttered as I grabbed my camera bag and stepped out, the early city hum filling the air. Work was my escape, the only thing that made sense when nothing else did.The studio was quiet when I walked in, the faint smell of coffee and printer ink lingering in the air. I waved to Marcy, the front desk assistant, who gave me her usual bright smile.“Morning, Riley! Big day ahead?”“Just another day in paradise,” I replied, forcing a smirk.“Don’t forget there’s coffee in the break room,” she added with a wink. “You look like you need it.”I nodded in thanks and headed to my small workspace in the back. The room was cozy, cluttered with camera lens
Bouquet Of Deception 91
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on
Bouquet Of Deception 90
61 Ethan I watched Ethan disappear into the building, my fingers still gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. I shouldn’t have said anything. But the thought of him walking into work like it was just another normal day—like he didn’t have a goddamn clue what was coming—made my stomach churn. I exhaled sharply, drumming my fingers against the wheel. I should leave. Drive off, go to work, pretend none of this was my problem. But it was my problem. Because Ethan—stubborn, oblivious Ethan—had no idea what he was walking into. And that was dangerous. I glanced at my phone, the screen lighting up with a notification. Unknown Number: You were warned, Riley. I clenched my jaw. Of course, I had been. But warnings never stopped me before. With a sigh, I put the car in gear, pulling away from the curb. But instead of heading to work, I took a different route. I needed to check something first. And I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what I fou
Bouquet Of Deception 89
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it
