AgnesI stared down at the book in my hands, feeling like my face was on fire. “I-I didn’t realize what it was,” I blurted out, desperately trying to cover up my embarrassment. “I-I must have grabbed it by mistake.”Elijah glanced over at me. To my surprise, there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Agnes, it’s alright. Remember your Luna lesson: you don’t have to explain yourself.”I fiddled with the edge of the book’s glossy cover. My cheeks heated even more at the sight of the shirtless model on the front. “But I’m telling the truth. I don’t usually read... this sort of thing.”He shrugged, his eyes returning to the road ahead. The light turned green, and he accelerated, the city turning into a blur around us. “And so what if you did? There’s nothing wrong with that.”I shot him a sidelong glance, surprised. “You mean, you don’t mind?”“Why would I?” he asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “It’s still a book just like any other. Who cares if it has... ero
And although I didn’t want to let myself consider this as an option, I thought back to the possibilities surrounding the DNA test—if Elijah was somehow the man I had hooked up with all those years ago, then…Maybe he wasn’t the worst choice in a one night stand, if this was his mentality surrounding more… intimate matters.By the time we finally pulled up to the house, however, I was dying to get away. I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to him briefly, my face still red from our encounter. “Thank you for the ride.”“Anytime,” he replied as he cut the engine.I hurried inside before he could follow me, clutching the book tightly. Once in my room, I slipped it under the mattress, planning to dispose of it discreetly the next time I went out. No matter what Elijah said, this genre wasn’t really my cup of tea.But that night, sleep evaded me. I tossed and turned, unable to stop thinking about the DNA test. What if the first test had been a mistake? What if Thea really was my missing daugh
But then, just as things intensified, a distant sound pulled me away.“Mommy?”My eyes snapped open at the sound of someone knocking on the door. Morning light filtered through the curtains, and I realized that I was tangled in the sheets, the book still clutched in my hands. My heart pounded as the vivid remnants of the dream lingered.“Mommy!” Thea’s voice called from the other side of the door. “I’m hungry!”Panic surged through me. “J-Just a minute!” I scrambled to hide the book under the mattress again, smoothing out the covers hastily.Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to find Thea standing there with an expectant grin on her face. “Good morning,” I greeted, forcing a smile.“Good morning!” she chirped. “Can we please have pancakes again?”“Sure, sweetheart. Let’s go to the kitchen.”As we made our way downstairs, I tried to shake off the lingering feelings from the dream. That was all it was: a dream induced by late-night erotica.But every movement reminded me of the way
AgnesLater that day, I found myself walking alongside Elijah through the corridors of the pack’s administrative building yet again. I struggled to keep up with his quick pace, my heels clicking loudly on the marble floors.“Today, I’d like you to join me in several meetings,” Elijah said, glancing
AgnesI could feel Ava’s smirk burning into the side of my face as I plugged in my flash drive and set up the PowerPoint. She was seated directly across from me, arms folded, a glint of smug satisfaction in her eyes.She probably thought I was going to crash and burn. Well, she could think whatever
Mr. Reynold’s face went red. Around the table, I heard a few scattered chuckles at my quip. Even Elijah seemed to be hiding a tiny smirk behind his hand.But then Ava suddenly blurted out smugly, “Do you have projections to support this?”I knew she would ask that—trying to trip me up. But I had com
AgnesThe day of the charity gala had finally arrived, and I found myself standing in front of the mirror, adjusting the strap of my gown for what felt like the hundredth time. It was a stunning dress—a beautiful gold, hugging my figure in all the right places—but I couldn’t help the wave of nerves
Agnes & ElijahAgnesWe moved from the ballroom at the gala to the auction hall for the next part of the gala—the auction. I took in the elegant surroundings, the polished floors and glittering chandeliers, feeling a bit more relaxed now that Elijah had solidified my place at his side to everyone. W
Agnes The touch on my back startled me, and I nearly spilled my drink as I jolted upright. But when I turned, it was just Elijah who was standing behind me. His hand was resting lightly on my shoulder blade, and he was staring at my back. “You’re sunburnt,” he said simply before I could ask what
Agnes The sun reflected off the clear blue water, the ripples shimmering like liquid glass in the late afternoon light as Thea splashed in the shallow end of the pool. She shrieked with laughter, darting around like a fish while two other kids chased after her. The sound of her happiness made my c
Agnes Thea’s eyes lit up as the flashing lights and the speaker above the booth announced Elijah’s win. She rushed forward, reaching her little hands out. “Which prize would you like?” the vendor, a teenage boy with his hair hanging in his eyes, asked with a sigh. He looked like he wanted to be
Agnes The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting golden stripes across the hotel room floor. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, but a faint noise drew my attention. Snoring. I turned my head toward the source of the noise, which was near the couch, and there h
I opened my mouth to argue, but Thea had already flopped onto the sofa, giggling. “This is comfy! I wanna sleep here!” Elijah smirked, clearly amused. “Looks like the decision’s been made.” I shot him a look, but his gaze was as steady and unbothered as ever. “Fine,” I muttered, grabbing my paja
Agnes Even by the time we returned to the hotel room later, I could still feel the buzz of adrenaline coursing through me. I had won. Somehow, I had won against Olivia in front of a crowd of onlookers. The thought left a strangely bittersweet taste in my mouth. Although it was mostly sweet, if I w
Agnes The casino lights pulsed around me, an endless blur of color and sound, but all I could focus on was the knot of tension coiled in my chest. My encounter with Olivia and Noah left me feeling trapped, an unwilling player caught in the crossfire of their games. I glanced at Elijah, leaning c
Elijah I didn’t have to look to know who it was—Olivia, her tone lined with that unique mix of malice and sweetness she’d perfected over the years. As I turned, I saw her standing there, arm linked with a tall, broad figure beside her. It was Noah, Alpha of the Blackridge pack. Seeing him in o
Agnes “Don’t let it get to you,” Elijah said calmly, handing back my phone. “Time will reveal the truth, Agnes. Just remember—victory belongs to the prepared.” The calmness in his voice loosened some of the tension in my shoulders. The online backlash, the disapproving looks, the whisper