CamillaSaying I was stunned would be an understatement. I clasped my hands together and exchanged glances with George; his face was completely serious, with no hint of amusement. My nerves were on high alert, and George's intense eye contact made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I should feel flattered or grateful that someone as successful as George was asking me out, despite my dirty past, but I knew it was unfair to take advantage of him."I don't understand," I finally managed to say after I got my tongue working. "What do you mean?"He turned off the engine in front of the driveway and turned to face me straight on. "Every damn word I said, Camilla. I'm not the type to go back on my word. I like you, and I'm sure about it." I broke eye contact with him, and uncomfortable sweat trickled down my neck. George inched closer to me. He was so close that I froze and couldn't move."You can't be serious," I managed to say. "I'm pregnant with another man's baby, who happens to be your r
Ziah's POVI was overcome with a strange, uncomfortable jealousy as I watched my brother, Zeke, chatting and laughing with Camilla. It was odd because I had no doubts about Zeke's loyalty to Vespa, but the easy way they interacted made me realize that anything was possible, and I would never be at ease seeing the mother of my child with my brother.Previously, I had been quietly observing Camilla from the kitchen window. She was in the garden, singing with a voice that astonished me. I had no idea she possessed such a remarkable talent, and it made me wonder why she didn't pursue singing instead of working as a call girl.She had what it took to succeed in the music industry. Hearing her now sing with Zeke sparked mixed emotions in me, and I had no idea why I was jealous. I had turned down the girl for Vespa, so why was I burning with a desire to protect her from the gaze of other men, particularly that pie-faced doctor, George?Her voice blended harmoniously with Zeke's guitar. No dou
CamillaI thought a terrible incident like an explosion had occurred when I heard the loud banging, and I hastily got out of bed, secured my robe around my waist, and rushed out. My annoyance when I found out it was just Ziah banging on his brother's door made me roll my eyes.Kai wasn't home, so there was no one to support Ziah. Grandma Zora was a heavy sleeper and had slept through the commotion.As much as I didn't want to blame Vespa, she was so infuriating, stringing the poor brothers along and claiming she couldn't make a choice. Was it a crime to pick one brother and free the rest?My hand went to my little bump. I was carrying a piece of Ziah inside me. If I were in Vespa's shoes, I would be kind and decent enough to release him from this love triangle hell, but she was so selfish that it blinded her. Every time I saw her flirting with all three of them, my blood boiled because it was unfair that she was playing with their emotions, and they were stupid enough to allow it. Sh
CamillaAfter I agreed to be George's girlfriend, he kissed me with abandon. It was weird at first, and I was overwhelmed with his excitement. But I had already said yes, and there was no going back.He dropped me off and kissed me in front of the house. When he pulled away, I was startled to see Ziah leaning against his car, watching us. I hadn't even noticed his presence; otherwise, I wouldn't have kissed George. My eyes clung to him, analyzing his reaction. I could see the icy contempt that flashed in his eyes; he was angry and didn't fail to hide it.I looked away and noticed that George was wearing a twisted smile, like a cat who got the cream, and I didn't like the growing suspicion that George was enjoying this a little too much."This is bad,” I whispered to George. “Ziah looks pissed. Things are already complicated, and I don't want it to worsen.Ziah was going to think I was some cheap flirt who couldn't keep her feelings in check. “Relax,” George said with a smile. “You're
CamillaTwo weeks had passed since I became George's girlfriend, and he had been consistently kind and attentive, showering me with affection and devotion.It was astonishing how generous he was. He got me numerous gifts—a new phone, a wardrobe overhaul, exciting dates, and everything I could want. You might even think he was the father of my child, given his extravagant behavior.Two days ago, he took me out to a carnival and prioritized me, even with his busy schedule as a doctor. It was sweet, really, but despite all of this, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I didn't love him the way he deserved to be loved.It was unfair of me to keep enjoying the privileges of being with him when my heart was still beating for someone else. I felt guilty, knowing that I was not fully invested in the relationship.The good thing is that he was aware of it, as I'd warned him about it from the start. Yet he insisted that, with time, I would grow to love him.I wish I could feel the same way abou
CamillaI sat outside with George after dinner and had an intuitive feeling that I needed to be careful with my words and actions because I could tell he was upset.We sat together under the shade of the tree, and my mind wandered back to the chaotic dinner scene. Despite Kai and Ziah never getting along, Kai could have used George's analogy to score cheap points. But he instead rebuked George for meddling in their family matters. George gazed into the distance. I fidgeted with the hem of my dress and contemplated how to approach the situation. George was both right and wrong; he was right because what he said was true—Vespa couldn't possibly marry all three brothers, and it would be weird for an alpha to beg for his wife's attention. But George was also wrong because it was a family matter, and he had no right to intrude into what didn't concern him.His gaze was fixed on the horizon. I wanted to reach out and apologize on the boys’ behalf, but I hesitated and waited quietly for hi
Camilla's POVZiah's behavior was both confusing and worrisome. I didn't understand the reason behind his annoyance or why he was snapping at everyone and looking for a fight.He's got his woman by his side, so why wasn't he happy? Why was he being bitter and resentful, as if I was somehow ruining his life by being with George?He had said that George wasn't one to be trusted, but even if George ended up breaking my heart, he had no business with it.This was getting ridiculous."I'll be leaving soon." George stood up and announced. "I didn't mean to ruin your evening, but Camilla and I are going to the club.""What nonsense!" Ziah bellowed. "You can't take a pregnant woman to the club, you fool!"His reaction amused me. I wiped my mouth, biting my lips to hide the laughter that was threatening to burst out. Both Vespa and I grew openly amused. Vespa's laughter was infectious. I didn't know when I started laughing so hard that I became hysterical.“What's funny, Vespa?" Ziah asked Vesp
Vespa's POV I slipped on my pink string bikini and headed to the pool. Kai and I had the house to ourselves. Ziah and Grandma Zora were at the secretariat, Camilla went out with Zeke, and I couldn't be any happier. At the same time, I couldn't seem to shake off the feeling of guilt that ran through my body. It was scary to admit, but I was starting to enjoy Kai's company the most.I loved all three brothers equally, but somehow, I found myself looking forward to moments with Kai. This thought caused a holiness in my chest, and I let out a long, low sigh. I climbed down the chrome ladder at the end of the pool and dipped into the cool water. The late afternoon sun made the water shine, and the temperature was just right—not too hot, not too cold. I swam a few laps, feeling the water envelop me, and then floated on my back, letting the sun warm my face.Just as I was getting comfortable, Kai emerged from the house with our towels and a colorful cocktail in hand—a Piña Colada, my favor
Chapter FiftyAthenaFour months had passed, and the academy graduation day had finally arrived. It was a bright and beautiful morning, and students, parents, and teachers gathered to celebrate this milestone. My dad and mom were there with my sister. Uncle Zika and their wives were also present. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress. I had settled for a simple blue gown that had a long slit. Mia helped me with my hair and makeup, ensuring perfect detail. Oh, and did I mention that Cameron was still alive, and Mia was engaged to her boyfriend Sean? She wore an off-the-shoulder dress to flaunt her mark with pride. I tried not to look at it because I always became jealous whenever I did. Mom and Dad beamed with pride, taking photos of me and Caleb. Cameron's dad, King Marcos, had also arrived, and when I curtsied respectfully, he smiled warmly at me and hugged me. His mom still had not been found, and some people speculated that she might have killed herself. Cameron ofte
AthenaSex with Cameron was beautiful. I never knew it could get so addicting, and I always thought the act was overhyped until I experienced it. The more the weeks passed, the more I couldn’t get enough of him. He had complained about condoms, saying that it wasn’t like the real thing, but I would always scream at him to stop being stupid and that I wouldn’t be responsible for his death. We kept the news from our parents. Cameron’s mom had disappeared and was nowhere to be found. Cameron pretended to be calm the time we bumped into King Thor, but when he was closing off, he landed a punch on the king's jaw that I heard crack. He got a few bruises from the king’s bodyguards, but I was proud of him. The bastard deserved to be manhandled.Despite everything, I needed validation that I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t tell my mom because she would tell my dad, so the only person I could confide in was my grandmother. One of the weekends, I took a train to her house, which was close
Cameron's POVI'd never been on the verge of tears in years. It was taboo for boys to show emotion. Lately, life has been unfair to me, and realizing that nothing could ever be okay again has made me feel like a failure. I had always thought my life was great and better than most. Now, it was clear that that was just a delusion. The fact that my parents were on the brink of divorce because my mom fucked that bastard, Thor, made my blood boil.This roller coaster left my body drained. I didn't care how stupid I looked in tears; the feelings overwhelmed me. When the first wave of grief subsided, I finally looked at Athena, who was also in tears. She cupped my chin and kissed my forehead. “Why? Athena. Why does it have to be me? First, it's our bond and the pain of knowing you and I can never be together. Now, this?”“I'm sorry,” her mouth trembled as tears streamed down her face. “It isn't right. I wish I could fix it.”She wrapped her arms around me tightly, and I held her back whil
AthenaA crease appeared on Cameron's forehead, and he looked pinched and unhappy from my rejection. I moved my hand frequently, trying to distract myself, and thought he would understand as usual, but he seemed too defensive."It's just a dance, Athena. Even strangers dance. Things aren't that bad; please don't push it," I said, remaining calm. Cameron grinned at me, and I didn't understand why he was so stubborn."Fine then, I'm not going to ruin the fun. I hope you wouldn't mind if I danced with another girl.""Break a leg."He looked like I had just slapped him in the face, surprised by my response, but I needed to protect him from myself, even if it hurt. He turned around and left, and soon, he was dancing with a popular girl from school. Watching them felt too painful. I skipped to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of juice to distract myself.I noticed someone at the door and thought it was Cameron, but it was my cousin Alex. He smiled a little too broadly, and there was an
AthenaI bit the inside of my cheek, feeling trapped and unsure of my options to return to school. It was easy to second-guess myself because teenagers and young adults my age were mean, and no matter how I pretended that words didn’t get to me, I knew that wasn’t true. Stepping off the plane, I hoped I had made the right decision. I flagged a taxi from the airport parking lot, wondered why they were so expensive and hiked their prices compared to regular taxis, but I had no choice because Mom had gotten me a truckload of edibles and even more for Caleb. The driver dropped me off at the school gates, and I didn’t know if it was the hopeful expectation that there was going to be a strange twist between Cameron and me or the fear that things could get worse and that I was shooting myself in the foot. My heart pounded as I dragged my suitcase behind me. I stopped when I spotted Cameron standing and smiling at me at the gate; my heart melted.Our love brought us back to each other in wa
Cameron My gaze never left Athena. She was too startled by my bold declaration, and even though I was more uncertain than ever about what I was doing, and my dad was caught off guard by my words, I couldn’t help it. A part of me knew I was digging my grave, and I liked life too much to lose it. But at the same time, seeing Athena roused my deep affection and attachment for her. It wasn’t just about lust; there was more to my feelings. I wanted to move closer, to touch her. My pulse raced, and I felt a hyper-awareness of being close to her. Only she could cause me this mental fuzziness and the feeling of possessing her and keeping her safe.Her father looked confused. I heard his quick intake of breath. Athena stood tongue-tied, and shock flew through her mother’s eyes. I could tell my father was irritated.“What is wrong with you?” he whispered harshly, but I was too far gone. Athena looked different, skinnier than when I last saw her. She looked like someone who had been through a
Athena The next day dragged on without much happening. Everyone soon returned to their lives, with Dad busy with alpha duties and Mom busy with work and the home front. I knew this was how it would be—that everyone would forget my predicament or soon see me as a sore loser who couldn’t overcome the fact that Cameron and I could never be together. But I was wrong. My mom had invited my grandma to come over, which was a real surprise, as my grandma was a pure witch, and it was risky for her to be in our pack. Having her over made me feel a certain type of way. I had inherited her bloodline, and with it came a legacy of pain and heartache. I didn’t know if I wanted to see her.I drifted to sleep but could hear my grandma’s voice in my dreams. When I woke up, I realized she was indeed downstairs. My parents and sister were welcoming her warmly. I remained in bed; a part of me wanted to rush downstairs and fling myself into her arms. Instead, I made my way to the window and peered down
AthenaThe next few days were a blur of sorrow and nothingness. I struggled to remain alive and succumbed to the sadness that consumed me. I hated myself. I wished my life was over. There was nothing positive to look out for in this bleakness. My parents were concerned, but I chose isolation, finding people's words and concerns irritating. My eyes were swollen from crying, and my bed was bearing the brunt of this depression. I didn't leave it; if the poor bed could speak, it would be screaming n. I knew I would be expelled from school; that was a no-brainer. My dad and mom tried to reach out to me. Even my uncles, Zeke and Ziah, came over with their wives, but I didn't want to see anyone.Caleb had sacrificed to travel back with me, but he shouldn't have bothered because his presence didn't lift my spirits. The whole family was angry with Alex for exposing my secret, but I knew it was for the best. Cameron would be free now, and it was useless holding him back. I heard my mom knoc
CameronIf anyone had ever told me that this revelation would break the bond I shared with Athena, I would have never believed them because Athena seemed like everything good in my world, all in one package. I devoted myself to her and desired to share everything with her—my body, mind, and soul. I gave my heart to her to treasure with trust. We matched perfectly and had never fallen in love so quickly or completely.A wedding seemed the next logical step. I thought I would feel happy with her and that even if we encountered issues, they would be minor things with solutions.But now, my heart was shattered beyond repair. I was furious, I was afraid, and the thought of bonding with Athena leading to my death frightened me beyond measure. The hurt was raw, and the terror came gasping up my throat in a cold, panting fear. Ever since that night at the ballroom, surrounded by the elite who gathered to watch the commotion occur, my life went downhill. That night, a hush fell over the cr