I worked 15-hour shifts every day at the restaurant, barely enough time to catch my breath. Parties and banquets? They felt like they belonged to a different world—one I’d never be a part of. I was just a waitress who was hip-deep in debt, a nobody in the eyes of most people. Therefore, when the A
My heart pounded as I held his steely gaze. I’d never seen him before in person. Still, he embodied every physical descriptor I had heard customers give him at the diner: extremely fit, tall, dark, and handsome--with ice-blue eyes.The type of eyes a girl could get lost in. Those eyes narrowed.“Ye
Alpha Elijah had once again firmly sent me back to my rooms while he went to console his daughter, probably to ask her what had happened without any onlookers. Now in my room, my mind still whirled as I thought of the encounter. Not with Elijah or Ava, but with her.Thea.She must have been a clever
The night of the ball had arrived. My heart thundered as I stood at the front of the line of Mate Trial girls outside the large ornate doors of the ballroom, waiting to be let in. I could hear Ava’s loud laughter from her place near the back of the line, obviously wanting to be the last girl in beca
Alpha Elijah led Thea and me out of the ballroom as Thea clung tightly to both of our hands. My mind swirled around the events of the night, continuing to land back on the birthmark on Thea’s neck.It sent shivers down my spine, the prospect that it really could be her—my daughter, the child that I
ElijahThe moment Agnes had walked down the stairs in the ballroom, I had been captivated. It was like she had been made to captivate all my attention. Even now, sitting in my study in her plainclothes, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.From our very first encounter, my gaze had been drawn to hers
Gloria’s demeanor instantly changed when Elijah appeared.“Alpha Elijah, I am so sorry. I just assumed—”“Your assumptions were incorrect, Gloria. Thank you for your time employed here, but offending the Alpha’s mate is an offense that cannot be rectified. You’re fired.”My eyes went as wide as saucers as the housekeeper began sobbing. “Bu, bu, but—”“Leave,” he simply ordered. The woman scuttled away, but not without first sending a sour glare my way.I didn’t know what to say other than, “You didn’t have to—”“She’s been stealing cash from my office for weeks,” he said with a wave of his hand. “And besides, I won’t set such a precedent here. You deserve respect.”Those words took me by surprise, but before I could respond, Thea grabbed my arm.“Let’s go see your actual room! It’s right next to mine, and Daddy’s is right across the hall!”Thea was practically skipping as she pulled me down the hallway toward my new room, already chattering about tea parties and the like. I cast a glan
We spent the next few minutes sorting through the few items I had brought with me. As I pulled out a small, worn pony plush toy from my bag, I felt a pang of nostalgia. It was one of the things I had prepared years ago when I was pregnant.The pony, along with a few storybooks and baby toys, had been part of the little nursery I had put together in anticipation of my baby’s arrival.Thea’s eyes immediately lit up when she saw the toy. “Pony Bella!” she squealed, grabbing the plush from my hands.I froze, staring at her in shock. “What did you call her?”Thea hugged the toy to her chest, beaming. “This is Pony Bella. She’s my best friend! I tell her all my secrets.”My heart skipped a beat. How could Thea know that name? During my pregnancy, I had often spoken to my unborn baby, telling her stories and talking about how Bella the pony was waiting to meet her.It had been a name I had chosen out of the blue—something special, just for my baby.I swallowed hard, my hands trembling slightl
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