And now, so did Elijah. I was impressed that he had taken the time to look at my paper and he’d even asked me about the research itself, and I’d pointed to some academic texts I had used for the research, which he’d pored over in preparation for this discussion as well.Elijah’s gaze sharpened, and
The respect I had long been denied finally started flowing my way, and I absorbed Elijah’s lesson deeply. The whispers of doubt, the cruel judgments, all the rumors that had once circled around me—now, they were crumbling, like ash blown away by the wind.People who had barely acknowledged my existe
Clara’s face twisted in disgust as she tried to argue, "But Alpha Elijah, she’s wolfless and had a child out of wedlock with some nameless wolf. She’s a disgrace!”I felt the heat rise in my chest, the humiliation threatening to boil over. How could she still look at me like that after everything I
AgnesThe phone felt like ice in my hand as I stood in the secluded clearing, my heart hammering against my chest. The words from the DNA testing center still echoed in my ears, but they didn’t make any sense.Thea isn’t your child. There is no biological connection between you.I wanted to scream.
AgnesAs soon as Olivia’s lips touched Elijah’s, my heart clenched, and I turned away. I couldn’t watch. It wasn’t like I hadn’t known this was coming—their bond, as fated mates, was unbreakable.I knew that from the beginning. It was a harsh reality I couldn’t avoid. But knowing didn’t make it hurt
I was stunned. Today is my birthday?I hadn’t celebrated my birthday in years—five, to be exact. So much of my life had been swallowed by a relentless pursuit of survival—working to pay off debts, searching endlessly for my stolen baby—that I had forgotten what it felt like to have a day just for m
His other hand slid up, fingers curling around the nape of my neck, pulling me even closer until there was no space between us.I heard it then, a low growl rumbling from his chest, vibrating against my skin. His lips hovered over mine for a brief, tantalizing second before he whispered, his voice r
AgnesElijah’s lips were soft and sweet against mine, sweeter than any sugar I had ever tasted. The feeling of his hands cupping my body felt like the most natural thing in the world, and it felt as if I could stay like this forever.But as I pulled back from the kiss for air, a whirlwind of emotion
“I’m glad,” he said softly. “You both needed something good after yesterday.”I leaned against the island, thinking about the sweet evening with Thea. “She called me her hero, you know. For coming to save her.”Elijah smiled. “Well, you were.”I shook my head. “I don’t feel like one after that incid
AgnesI rushed toward Elijah, my heart hammering in my chest. Even in the dim light of the entryway, his black eye was startlingly obvious—a dark, angry bruise circling the socket. He was slumped against the door, looking exhausted, but he straightened when he saw me, grimacing slightly from the eff
“Just like yours,” she said happily.“Just like mine.”Next came hair braiding. Thea sat on the floor between my knees as I gently worked through the tangles of her dark hair, separating strands for a French braid. My fingers moved automatically, muscle memory from years of doing my own hair. I humm
AgnesI pulled into the driveway around seven, exhausted after a long day of sewing, designing, and avoiding Maria’s knowing glances.The bathroom incident with Elijah had been the talk of the design department by lunchtime—whispers and stifled giggles following me throughout the afternoon. I’d buri
“Do you still intend to try and break your mate bond with Olivia?” I blurted out, then immediately regretted my bluntness.Elijah’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t pull away. “Of course I do. Why would you think otherwise?”I glanced down, unable to meet his gaze. “No reason. I was just wondering if… a
AgnesElijah’s grip on my wrist was firm as he pulled me out of the design department. My heart hammered against my ribs, not knowing what to expect. Was he angry? Had he seen the article? Had Olivia done something else?The blood from my pricked finger trailed down my palm, warm and sticky. Without
“In one explosive moment, Luna Agnes managed to convey what her entire fashion line attempts to say: that family transcends biology, that love requires sacrifice, and that sometimes we must destroy beautiful things to protect what truly matters.”I set the tablet down, my hands trembling. She though
AgnesI sat at one of the communal workstations in the design department, my fingers mechanically working the fabric as I remade the dress. The old one had been torn beyond repair, Olivia’s claws having shredded both the material and my pride in one fell swoop.But maybe I could at least try to rebu
“You’ve only ever seen Thea as a means to an end,” I finally finished. “A way to get what you want.”Olivia blinked at me. A darker thought, one that had lurked in the recesses of my mind for years, surfaced suddenly. “Hell, Olivia,” I continued, my gaze sweeping over her, “sometimes I wonder if The