“And ruin the authenticity?” he smirked. “Come on, Kayla. You wanted us to appear convincing.”I glared at him. “Not at the expense of being manipulated.”He sighed, his expression turning cold. “It’s all part of the arrangement.”“Arrangement?” I scoffed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”He tilt
KaylaNicholas walked into the room and closed the door behind him. I stared at him as he entered, not moving from where I was perched on the bed.He sauntered over and sat beside me, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. His proximity made my jaw instinctively tighten, and I looked down,
A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes. He reached over, placing his hand beneath my chin and turning my face to meet his.“I’m very sure that day will come. I believe in you, Kayla.”My face warmed at his unexpected support. Nicholas always managed to annoy me, and yet somehow he gave me the suppo
KaylaThe table was silent. All eyes turned to Nicholas, waiting for him to confirm my little story. I sipped my wine and eyed him mischievously over the rim of my glass, thoroughly enjoying his tension.Serves him right, I thought wryly, trying not to laugh out loud. That’s what he gets for… well,
Once I was back in my room, I stretched and felt some of my negative mood dissipate. I changed into comfortable sleepwear, the silky fabric cool against my skin. It had been a long and tiring day, but at least I had managed to get a little revenge against two men who drove me utterly insane.Not to
KaylaToday was my first party as Luna.Right now, I was standing beside Nicholas, greeting every guest that walked through the grand entrance of the Alpha Manor. The chandeliers above cast a warm glow on the polished marble floors, and the air was thick and heady with the scent of expensive perfume
His eyes narrowed dangerously. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, his voice smooth like a brush of velvet against my skin. “Promise to be a good girl first.”I had to admit, his words did stir something in me, a heat that spread from my core outward. My knees wobbled a little, and I felt my thr
KaylaI really couldn’t believe Vanessa still had the nerve to come to my party, after all she had done.She used to be my friend. My best friend. My only friend. And then she had slept with my fiance, on our wedding day no less.Even looking at her now, all I could see was her bridesmaid dress pull
The next moment, an intense, electric pull surged through me—a sensation I recognized all too well. My steps faltered as the mate bond suddenly flickered to life, drawing me back toward him with an irresistible force. I spun around, my breath catching as I met his gaze through the open driver’s si
Kayla Nicholas stormed ahead of me, his grip on my hand firm enough to make me stumble as I tried to keep up with his long strides. My breath puffed visibly in the cold air, and I nearly tripped over a crack in the sidewalk, catching myself just in time to glare at the back of his head. “Nichola
Kayla The silence between Noah and me in the wake of Nicholas’s sudden exit felt heavy and awkward. I stared down at the peeling label of my beer bottle, unsure of what to say. The edges of the label were already frayed from where my nails had been picking at it earlier, and I didn’t even try to
Throughout the meal, Rebecca kept leaning into Nicholas, touching his arm and laughing at his jokes with exaggerated enthusiasm. I tried to focus on my food, but my eyes kept drifting back to them. Nicholas didn’t seem entirely comfortable, but he wasn’t pulling away, either. It wasn’t as if I had
Kayla The racquet slipped from my hands as the ball sailed through the air toward me. My breath hitched, and I braced for the sharp sting of impact, squeezing my eyes shut. But the pain never came. “That would’ve stung,” came Nicholas’s deep voice, rough and low. My eyes snapped open to see
Nicholas The winter sun was even more blinding from the snow outside as it streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and reflected off the polished floors of the country club’s indoor courts. I tugged at the collar of my polo, the fabric suddenly feeling too tight and too warm, and gl
By the time the game ended, I had scored exactly one point to Noah’s fifteen. But instead of sulking, I walked over to him and extended my hand across the net. “That was fun,” I said, and I really did mean it. “Thanks for letting me play.” Noah hesitated for a moment before shaking my hand. Ther
Kayla Noah looked anything but thrilled by my presence as we approached, and I felt my heart sink a little. Did he not like me or something? We’d hardly exchanged more than ten words between the two of us since we’d met. Nicholas, however, seemed as unbothered as ever. “Why would I leave my Luna
The words hit me like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over my head. I stared at the road as the reality of his statement sank in. Of course I knew this wasn’t a real wedding. I knew it was all for show, a charade to keep up appearances. But hearing him say it so bluntly, after everything, f